2023-11-28 10:03:41
Author: Guo Meiyi
Image: shutterstock (illustration not party involved)
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Delirium often occurs in the elderly, patients with dementia or brain injuries. It is often just a physiological imbalance that causes brain disorders, causing sudden confusion, inattention, sudden deterioration in memory, and changes in time, place and person. Symptoms include disorientation, hallucinations, delusions, confusion, and sudden mood changes. In fact, as long as the cause of the disease is found and treated, it will return to normal quickly.
80-year-old Grandma Zhang was a teacher before she retired and has always been a kind elder respected by everyone in the community. However, in the past 2 or 3 days, Grandma Zhang suddenly forgot daily things, often confused time and place, and even became confused and confused regarding familiar family members. Fear, and suspicion that family members are not good for you, and sometimes you even don’t know your family members at all…
In the middle of the night, Grandma Zhang suddenly panicked and searched for her long-dead husband, claiming to have seen things that were not of this world. Grandma Zhang seemed to have become a different person, leaving her family deeply confused and helpless.
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In fact, Grandma Zhang’s behavior is a typical symptom of delirium. Delirium does not gradually worsen like dementia. It is often sudden, and the symptoms will fluctuate. It is common to be awake in the morning and get worse in the followingnoon and evening. The more serious it is. Symptoms include:
●Sudden confusion
●lack of concentration
●Memory suddenly deteriorates
●Disorientation to time, place, and person
●Hallucinations, delusions, confusion and sudden mood changes
Huang Yanzhen, a physician at the Yuli Branch of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, reminded that although delirium presents mental and behavioral symptoms, it is actually a brain disorder caused by abnormal body functions, which can be triggered by a variety of factors. Common causes include infection, electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, medication side effects, brain disease, or reactions following surgery.
Delirium often occurs in the elderly, patients with dementia or brain injuries, because their brains are more sensitive than ordinary people and are prone to brain disorders due to physiological imbalances. Therefore, following Grandma Zhang went to the doctor for examination, she was indeed found to have a urinary tract infection. The doctor also noticed that a new drug she had taken recently might worsen her delirium symptoms. After treating the infection and adjusting the medication, Grandma Zhang returned to her former gentle and kind appearance.
Huang Yanzhen emphasized that the focus of treatment for delirium is to “see a doctor promptly and find the cause.” After most patients with delirium are treated, their symptoms will slowly disappear and return to their original state. When delirium symptoms are severe and the patient is agitated, seriously affecting the treatment of physical diseases, or even risking harm to himself or others, doctors will consider prescribing short-term antipsychotic drugs.
If you find that your relatives or friends have “acute and sudden” confusion, personality changes, mental status or cognitive changes, you should seek medical evaluation immediately so that potential physical diseases can be treated promptly.
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