Neurológia pre prax 5/2011
Delirium – a general introduction
Delirium is a clinical syndrome characterized by an acute attention deficit and cognitive dysfunction. It occurs frequently in hospitalized individuals, and its incidence rises with increasing age and severity of somatic condition. Diagnosis of delirium is based on history, clinical observation of behavior and testing of cognitive functions. The most common and important risk factor for development of delirium is the presence of dementia. In neurological practice, especially delirium occurs in dementia, as well as in stroke, CNS infections, tumors, etc.; administered drugs are also a frequent cause of delirium.
Keywords: delirium, consciousness, dementia, cognitive functions.
