Clinical: Red flag symptoms - Delirium.(Disease/Disorder overview)

A carer's account is valuable when assessing the acutely confused, writes Dr Anna Cumisky.

- Altered consciousness

- Age <65 years

- Head trauma

- Neurological signs

- Severe headache

- Delirium tremens

- Vomiting

- Unavailable history

Delirium, or acute confusion, tends to arise secondary to a sudden insult to the brain and is potentially reversible. Chronic confusion usually involves an irreversible change to neuroanatomy. Timely diagnosis and intervention is the key to optimising patient outcome.

Commonly, a person with delirium appears newly agitated and aggressive Delirium can …