Delirium: Difference between revisions

no edit summary
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
Line 6: Line 6:


== Etiology ==
== Etiology ==
Delirium can be caused by many disorders, the most common of which are:
Delirium can be caused by many disorders. The mnemonic I WATCH DEATH can be used to remember them:


* Infections (even a small UTI)
* Infection (even a small [[UTI]])
* Medications
* Withdrawal ([[alcohol]], [[benzodiazepines]])
* Drug withdrawal (alcohol, benzodiazepines)
* Acute metabolic ([[acidosis]], electrolyte disturbance, [[liver failure]], [[kidney failure]])
* Drug intoxication (illicit drugs, anticholinergics)
* Metabolic (acidosis, electrolyte disturbance, liver failure, kidney failure)
* Trauma (especially to the head)
* Trauma (especially to the head)
* CNS disease (stroke, tumour, seizures, hypoxia)
* CNS pathology ([[stroke]], [[Central nervous system tumour|tumour]], [[seizures]], [[hypoxia]]))
* Endocrine disorders
* [[Hypoxia]] of the brain
* Deficiencies
* Endocrine
* Acute vascular
* Toxins ([[drug intoxication]] (illicit drugs, [[anticholinergics]]))
* [[Heavy metal poisoning]]


== Clinical features ==
== Clinical features ==