Sudden memory loss in old age-delirium.
Sudden confusion and disorientation in elderly is abnormal.
Delirium is a sudden onset of confusion.
It is a complex clinical syndrome characterised by acute onset.
It always occurs abruptly over a period of hours or days.
There is a fluctuating course. Symptoms tend to come and go with an increase and decrease in severity over a 24 hour period. There are characteristic lucid periods where the patient appears normal and then deteriorates, usually much worse at night with lack of sleep and then sleeps during the day.
Usually is more severe in the evening when they become restless, wandering, agitated and wont sleep.
Inattention.
Difficulty focusing / disorganised thinking.
Easily distracted.
Altered level of consciousness
It is very common in the acute hospital situation with more than 50% of patients over 65 having some form of delirium which is commonly under-recognised, underdiagnosed and undertreated.
It is largely ignored in the hospital and in the community. Unless it is looked for and screened, it is commonly missed.
Delirium is a life threatening condition and a medical emergency!
In fact delirium has a very high mortality and up to 50% of patients with delirium may die within 2-4 weeks as a result of the underlying serious causes.
For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.