Delirium (Confusion)

Sudden confusion, or delirium, is a rapid change in your mental state. It’s when you can’t think clearly and have a lack of awareness about your environment. Delirium can last several hours or days.

If you or someone with you has delirium, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention.

At Goshen Hospital Emergency Department, our team works together to provide prompt care for sudden onset symptoms like confusion. We use the latest technologies and techniques to ensure that we deliver leading-edge treatment.

Symptoms related to delirium

You may notice other symptoms that come with sudden confusion, including:

• Hallucinations
• Restlessness or agitation
• Inability to focus or pay attention
• Emotional disturbances
• Being dazed or unalert
• Disorientation to time or place

These symptoms can change quickly and frequently. They can look similar to signs of dementia, and people with dementia are more likely to experience delirium.

Why am I confused?

Our experienced physicians and nurses diagnose what’s causing your confusion by making observations and performing exams. We may also use imaging exams or blood tests to confirm or rule out a diagnosis.

Sudden confusion can be caused by a number of health conditions, including:

• Stroke or brain hemorrhage (bleeding)
• Heart attack
• Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm)
• Dehydration
• Fever
• Alcohol or drug abuse, including overdose, or withdrawal
• Infection
• Liver or kidney failure
• Severe physical pain or emotional distress

Once we know the cause of delirium, we provide an effective treatment. We understand that when it comes to treating sudden confusion, minutes count. Whether it’s caused by a stroke or fever, we put our patients first.