Peculiarities of the acute confusional syndrome in the elderly

Authors

  • Yanay Pérez Pérez Hospital General Docente “Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso”, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Santiago de Cuba
  • Lucía Nivia Turro Mesa Facultad de Medicina No. 2, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Santiago de Cuba
  • Rita Mesa Valiente Hospital General Docente “Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso”, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Santiago de Cuba
  • Eloy Turro Caró Hospital General Docente “Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso”, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Santiago de Cuba

Keywords:

confusion, elderly, mental state tests and insanity, mental health.

Abstract

The acute confusional syndrome is a frequent clinical feature of acute diseases or drug toxicity in elderly, with high morbidity and mortality.  This originates due to functional disability and is characterized by an acute and fluctuating change in the mental state, with inattentiveness and altered conscience levels during less than 3 months, although it can be prolonged for longer time.  It is considered a medical emergency of demonstrable and potentially reversible organic cause, with an essentially clinical diagnosis.  In this investigation it is described how the acute confusion is manifested in elderly, which are the predisposing and triggering factors in its emergence and which treatment can be adequate if the clinical pattern and its causal factors are diagnosed in an appropriate way.

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Published

2018-05-15

How to Cite

1.
Pérez Pérez Y, Turro Mesa LN, Mesa Valiente R, Turro Caró E. Peculiarities of the acute confusional syndrome in the elderly. MEDISAN [Internet]. 2018 May 15 [cited 2025 Jun. 3];22(5). Available from: https://medisan.sld.cu/index.php/san/article/view/1924

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 5 (2018): MEDISAN

Section

Biomedical Communication

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