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Can the popularly known delirium tremens syndrome appear after a urinary tract infection or as a result of medication? Check out what else you don’t know about delirium syndrome.
Delirium syndrome is a group of symptoms in which, apart from qualitative disturbances of consciousness, there are disturbances in attention, perception, thinking, memory, emotions, sleep-wake rhythm and psychomotor activity disorders. Delirium syndrome can occur in many disease states.
Under what circumstances can delirium syndrome be suspected?
If we see a person who does not know where he is and with whom, does not realize the situation he is in, has difficulty sleeping: he cannot sleep at night or sleeps during the day instead of at night, he is awakened by nightmares, he sees and hears what we do not see or see objects, characters, animals that are in fact smaller or larger and do not arouse fear, is agitated, aggressive or, on the contrary, lethargic, cannot remember much, cannot focus properly, jumps from the topic in the conversation on the subject, thinks people, has a rapid heartbeat, sweats, has a red face, we can suspect delirium syndrome in the right situation.
What is the cause of this syndrome?
Delirium syndrome is a collection of symptoms that arise from a variety of causes. They are thought to be caused by changes in the cerebral circulation, in the brain tissue itself, and in the function of neurons.
Are there people more prone to the band’s appearance?
Delirium can occur in a previously healthy person, but most often it affects the elderly, people who suffer longer from various diseases, who have previously suffered from the so-called cognitive disorders, i.e. incorrect perception of reality, inability to focus, disturbed thinking and memory, speaking and communicating with people.
Delirium can be caused by:
– dehydration, electrolyte disturbances,
– acute liver and kidney disease,
– thyroid disease,
– infection of the respiratory tract and urinary tract (e.g. pneumonia, urinary tract infection),
– meningitis,
Certain medications, including antidepressants, if used incorrectly
– Head damage,
– epilepsy,
– a brain tumor,
– withdrawal of certain medications and alcohol,
Pain, especially accompanying bone fractures,
– stress accompanying, for example, the death of a loved one.
How long do symptoms persist?
The symptoms of the syndrome build up overnight. They are temporary and pass after their cause has been identified and treated appropriately. Occasionally, after the symptoms have resolved, the person may remember what they experienced during the delirium.
Diagnostics and treatment
Delirium syndrome requires proper diagnosis in a hospital setting. There are many blood tests and imaging tests that can help find the cause of the syndrome.
Treatment depends on the cause of the symptoms. For example, if it is pneumonia, treatment is pneumonia. If it is dehydration, adequate fluid volume should be administered. Drugs from the group of the so-called neuroleptics that have a sedative effect. In addition, care is taken to provide such a person with peace and improve their cognitive abilities. She makes sure that her family and relatives visit her frequently.
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