Overview
| Definition Delirium: Cognitive impairment typically caused by acute illness or drug toxicity (sometimes life threatening) and is often reversible. Delirium mainly affects attention. Confusion: disturbed orientation in regard to time, place, or person, sometimes accompanied by disordered Dementia: Cognitive impairment typically caused by anatomic changes in the brain, has slower onset, and is generally irreversible. Dementia mainly affects memory. |
Differential diagnosis of altered level of Consciousness - AEIOUTIPS)
| Remember Confusion is not specific to delirium; it may be found in other psychiatric disorders, such as dementia or depression. |
| Difference between Dementia and Delirium | ||
| Dementia | Delirium | |
| Onset | Sub-acute | Acute |
| Conscious level | Normal | Fluctuates |
| Hallucinations | Late event | Common |
| Agitation/agression | Uncommon until late | Common |
| Thought form | Poverty of thought late | Flight of ideas |
| Memory | Slow decline | Poor |
Approach
Altered level of consciousness turning agitated and violent
Steps to take
Management - chemical retraint
| Think If someone is aggressive, person probably would not want to take in any medication orally or have something injected Intravenously. |
Complications of Chemical restraining
