What Is Delirium?

Delirium is a condition of sudden severe confusion and rapid brain function changes that occur with a physical and mental disorder.

Delirium is an impairment of consciousness disorientation and disturbances in perception and restlessness”.

It is also known as acute brain syndrome or critical confusional state.

It is more of a state than the disease that occurs due to several etiological factors.

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Categories of delirium

Delirium due to general medical:

Like infection, fluid and electrolyte disorder, head injury, etc.

Substance-induced delirium:

It may occur due to specific medication or addictive drugs

Substance withdrawal delirium

May occur due to reduction or termination of specific substances like alcohol, sedatives, drugs, etc.

I also covered Withdrawal Alcohol Abuse in depth. You must read.

Causes and risk factors of delirium

It may be the result of physical or mental illness and are usually temporary and reversible.
Metabolic disease like metabolic acidosis
Endocrine disease like DKA
Intracranial disease like epilepsy, head injury, bleeding, stroke
Mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression
Other causes like post-operative state, sleep deprivation, addiction

You must read this article:

Signs and symptoms of delirium

Poor memory, particularly of recent events.
Disorientation: for example, not knowing where you are or who you are.
Difficulty speaking or recalling words.
Rambling or nonsense speech
Trouble understanding speech
Difficulty reading or writing
Seeing things that don’t exist (hallucinations)
Restlessness, agitation, or combative behavior
Being quiet and withdrawn —especially in older adults
Slowed movement or lethargy
Disturbed sleep habits
Anxiety, fear, or paranoia
Depression
Irritability or anger
Apathy
Rapid and unpredictable mood shifts
Personality changes

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Diagnosis

Confusion assessment method

Healthcare professionals use the Confusion Assessment Method to help them diagnose delirium. They will look for the indications of delirium during a CAM assessment:

Acute onset
Inattention
Disorganized thinking
Memory impairment
Psychomotor retardation

Some physical tests

The following test helps them check for imbalances in a person’s brain chemistry and electrolyte levels and verify the presence of any medical conditions:

Blood test
Urine test
ESR
CBC
X-ray skull
CT scan of the skul
MRI of the skull
Electroencephalography
Brain biopsy
Thyroid test

Management

Identification of cause and its immediate correction is the primary goal of treatment. Medications can be given according to the cause of the disease. With that, supportive care should be given, which includes the following.
Encouraging family members or familiar people for involvement.
Supportive care/nonpharmacological intervention:

Supportive care aims to prevent complications by:

Protecting the airway
Providing fluids and nutrition
Assisting with movement
Treating pain
Addressing incontinence

I have already covered:

Postoperative delirium recovery

Most cases of delirium last a week, with symptoms that slowly decline as the patient recovers from surgery. However, the condition can last for weeks and months in patients with underlying cognitive trials such as hearing impairment, dementia, vision, or a history of postoperative delirium.

Conclusion

Recovery from delirium is possible with excellent treatment. It can take few weeks for you to speak, think, and feel physically like your old self.

You have side effects from the medications used to treat this condition. Ask your doctor about any concerns you may have.

Start early diagnosis and treatment may decrease the risk of future complications.

Apart from these plugins, I recommend you to read following posts:

What Is Delirium?: Postoperative Delirium Recovery