Delirium

Abstract

Delirium is an acute, potentially reversible brain dysfunction manifested by a syndromal array of neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is often under diagnosed, under recognized and preventable. Non-detection in emergency departments is associated with a sevenfold hazard for increased mortality,  

It is a syndrome of acute onset, fluctuating course and brief duration (usually days to weeks). The severity of symptoms fluctuates over 24 hour period with lucid intervals in between.  

Pharmacological management is based on the notion of a relative dopamine excess and cholinergic deficiency as the principal neurochemical aberrations underlying delirium. Haloperidol remains the standard agent used to treat delirium.

Though delirium is a medical emergency, more than 50% of cases are missed, misdiagnosed or diagnosed late. Therefore increased awareness about the condition among health care professionals is needed.