Open AccessDelirium (acute toxic confusion) in the elderly
Author(s) -
Claire Spice,
Michael Bacon
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
acute medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.14
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 1747-4892
pISSN - 1747-4884
DOI - 10.52964/amja.0035
Subject(s) - delirium , confusion , medicine , intensive care medicine , abnormality , differential diagnosis , psychiatry , pathology , psychology , psychoanalysis
Delirium (also referred to as acute confusional state or toxic confusional state) is common in elderly patients admitted to hospital, and is usually secondary to an acute physical problem rather than being a primary abnormality. Physicians caring for acutely ill patients will frequently encounter those with delirium and need to be aware of the likely precipitants as well as the optimum management. We discuss the common precipitants, the clinical features, the differential diagnosis and the management of delirium.