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- Delirium is a symptom, not a diagnosis; the astute clinician must seek to discover and treat the underlying source of delirious states.
- It is a transient cognitive condition associated with decreased attention span and waxing and waning symptoms.
- Three types: (1) Hyperactive, (2) Hypoactive, (3) Mixed (daytime somnolence, nighttime agitation).
- In young patients, the cause is commonly due to toxins or trauma, while that for the elderly is typically infection or medication related.
- Five critical causes of delirium that must be recognized and treated immediately:
- Hypoxia
- Hypoglycemia
- Central nervous System infections
- Hypertensive encephalopathy
- Increased intracranial pressure
References
- Smith J, Seirafi J. Delirium and Dementia. In: Marx J, Hockerberger R, Walls R, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. Phila: Mosby-Elsevier; 2006:1645-63.