Imagine that your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, or someone you know was talking well and doing their job well until yesterday. But today, suddenly, they don't recognize you, they don't know where you are, and they talk nonsense. It's like they're in a different world. In medicine, we call this kind of sudden loss of memory Delirium or Encephalopathy. This is not like Alzheimer 's Disease , where memory loss gradually occurs over months or years. This is a condition that appears suddenly, in a few hours or days.
The important thing is that this kind of sudden loss of consciousness is by no means normal . It can happen to anyone, young or old. Therefore, it is essential to seek medical advice immediately if you experience this. Because treating the underlying medical condition that caused it can completely cure this loss of consciousness.
What are the symptoms of this?
The symptoms of this condition can vary from person to person. Some people become very quiet and withdrawn. Others become very restless and agitated. These symptoms can start suddenly and can increase or decrease throughout the day. They may be worse in the evening or at night.
Let's see what kind of things can happen to someone like this.
| Symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Difficulty concentrating | It becomes difficult to focus on one thing. Even if we listen to what is being said, it is difficult to understand it. |
| Melancholy/sleepiness | It's as if you haven't fully woken up from sleep. You may feel drowsy most of the time. |
| Contradictory stories | They say meaningless words, the things they say have no connection to each other. Sometimes they mumble. |
| Forgetting people and places around you | They don't know where they are. They can't even recognize their closest family members and children. |
| Restlessness and anxiety | Suddenly getting angry, agitated, screaming for no reason. Trying to get out of bed, moving around. |
| Hallucinations | They say they see things that aren't really there. They can say things like "Who's there?" and "Something's going on." |
What causes this?
There are many things that can cause this sudden loss of consciousness. Some of them are very serious. That's why we say to see a doctor immediately.
Some main reasons:
- Infections: Especially in the elderly, when a urinary tract infection or lung infection (such as pneumonia) develops, confusion may be the only symptom, even without a fever. Infections that affect the brain, such as meningitis, can also be a cause.
- Medications: Some painkillers, sleeping pills, and medications for depression, anxiety, allergies, and asthma can cause this condition.
- Diabetes Mellitus: This condition can occur when blood sugar levels are too low (hypoglycemia) or too high ( hyperglycemia ).
- Changes in body salts and chemistry: Severely reduced levels of essential salts, such as sodium or calcium, in the body.
- Alcohol or drugs: Excessive alcohol or drug use, or sudden cessation of them.
- Stroke: This can be a symptom of stroke or mini-strokes (TIAs) caused by a blockage in the blood supply to the brain .
- Inhalation of toxic gases: Ingestion of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide.
- Excessive pain: Having uncontrolled excessive pain.
- Other illnesses: Conditions such as Parkinson 's disease, seizures, cancer, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, lung disease, and thyroid problems.
Other factors that increase the risk:
Certain things increase the likelihood of this type of dementia occurring.
- Being over 65 years of age.
- Being hospitalized after major surgery .
- Using too many medications or stopping a daily medication.
- Already suffering from dementia.
- Dehydration (lack of water in the body) or nutritional deficiencies.
- Having difficulty seeing, hearing, or walking.
- Excessive fatigue.
What should I do if someone is like this?
This is the most important part. If someone suddenly loses consciousness like this in front of your eyes, don't waste any time.
1. Act immediately: If possible, call his family doctor. Otherwise, immediately take him to the nearest hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU). This is not something you can wait out at home.
2. Stay with the patient: Do not leave the patient alone until help arrives. They may be very scared and agitated. They may even become violent or try to get up and go somewhere.
3. Stay calm: If you get nervous, the patient may get even more nervous. So try to calm them down by speaking calmly and gently. Saying something like, "Don't worry, we're here" is also a great idea.
If you suspect a poisoning such as carbon monoxide poisoning, you can immediately call the National Poison Information Center at the Colombo National Hospital for advice.
How is it treated?
When you go to the hospital, the doctors first try to find the real underlying cause of the condition.
- Tests: The patient is examined and tests such as blood tests, urine tests, X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans are ordered.
- Obtaining information: You will be asked a lot of information, such as how the patient's symptoms started, all the medications he is taking (Ayurvedic, English, all), whether he uses alcohol, etc. At this time, it is very important to tell the truth without hiding anything .
Once the cause is identified and treated properly, this mental disorder usually resolves. Some people recover within a few hours, while others may take days or weeks. In the meantime, the patient may need medication to control their agitation.
As a help while the patient recovers...
- Take care to feed and drink well.
- Encourage them to walk a little (with your help) and move their bodies as much as possible.
- Get into the habit of waking up during the day and going to bed at night as usual.
- They like to keep things that are familiar to them (like family photos) close by.
- Don't overwhelm them with things like too many people coming to visit at once, too much noise, etc. And don't leave them completely alone.
Take-Home Message
- Delirium is not a normal part of aging. It is a medical emergency .
- This can be caused by a number of different factors, such as infections, medications, and diabetes.
- If you notice these symptoms, do not stay at home and immediately see a doctor or go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) .
- When the underlying cause is treated, this condition often resolves completely.
- Always talk to your doctor about all medications you or someone close to you is taking.
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