What is Delirium?

What is Delirium?

• Delirium: Severe state of mental confusion.
• Delirium: disorder characterized by confusion, inattentiveness, disorientation, illusions, hallucinations, agitation and in some instances autonomic nervous system overactivity; may result from toxic or metabolic conditions or structural brain lesions; condition may also be acute and reversible.
  Source - Diseases Database
• Delirium: state of violent mental agitation.
  Source - WordNet 2.1

Delirium: Introduction

Types of Delirium:

Types of Delirium:

• Delirium tremens - caused by alcoholism
• more types...»

Broader types of Delirium:

• Brain conditions
• Nervous system conditions
• more types...»

What causes Delirium?

Causes of Delirium: see causes of Delirium
Risk factors for Delirium: see risk factors for Delirium

What are the symptoms of Delirium?

Symptoms of Delirium: see symptoms of Delirium

Can anyone else get Delirium?

More information: see contagiousness of Delirium
Inheritance: see inheritance of Delirium

Delirium: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Delirium.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Delirium.

How is it treated?

Treatments for Delirium: see treatments for Delirium
Alternative treatments for Delirium: see alternative treatments for Delirium
Research for Delirium: see research for Delirium

Society issues for Delirium

Hospitalization statistics for Delirium: The following are statistics from various sources about hospitalizations and Delirium:

• 0.03% (3,166) of hospital consultant episodes were for delirium not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive drugs in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 73% of hospital consultant episodes for delirium not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive drugs required hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 42% of hospital consultant episodes for delirium not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive drugs were for men in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 58% of hospital consultant episodes for delirium not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive drugs were for women in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 85% of hospital consultant episodes for delirium not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive drugs required emergency hospital admission in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 27.3 days was the mean length of stay in hospitals for delirium not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive drugs in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• 14 days was the median length of stay in hospitals for delirium not induced by alcohol and other psychoactive drugs in England 2002-03 (Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, England, 2002-03)
• more statistics...»

Organs Affected by Delirium:

Organs and body systems related to Delirium include:

• Brain
• Mental

Name and Aliases of Delirium

Main name of condition: Delirium

Acute confusional state, Acute brain failure, Acute brain syndrome, Delerium Source - Diseases Database

Craze, Frenzy, Fury, Hysteria
Source - WordNet 2.1

Delirium: Related Conditions

Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Delirium:

• Alcoholic tremens
• Benzodiazepine withdrwal
• Chronic alcohol consumption
• Panic attacks
• Hyperthermia
• Diaphoresis
• Cardiac arrthymia

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