Delirium Geriatrics “My mother’s mind was fine when she was warded after a fall. Then she became confused and started seeing things. We were so worried we told the doctor. He found out that she had an infection and started her on treatment. She soon returned to normal which was a huge relief.” What is it? Delirium is a sudden change in the brain that causes confusion and distress. It comes on over a few hours or days and usually stops once the cause is treated. Who does it affect? Delirium is a common condition, appearing in 10 to 20% of medical inpatients. The prevalence increases with age and amongst patients with dementia.
What are the symptoms? • Confusion • Poor attention • Mixed up speech • Not recognising items or being unable to learn new information • Not knowing where you are • Hearing or seeing things (hallucinations) • Getting upset or angry easily • Shouting, screaming or cursing • Not sleeping properly • Pulling at clothing or bedding or not moving hands What causes it? • Infection • Medications • Constipation • Urine retention • Pain • Left over pain relief from surgery before it wears off • Heart attack • Being in an unfamiliar place • Alcohol poisoning or withdrawal • Minerals in the blood being out of balance