Confusion (Person Over Age 65)

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Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion.	Adverse reaction or side	Consult doctor.
Use of drugs, including:	effect of drug.
antihistamines; appetite	Drug interaction.
suppressants; muscle relaxants;
pain killers; sedatives;
tranquilizers; or mind-altering
drugs, such as marijuana,
cocaine, LSD and heroin.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion.	Decreased blood supply to	Call doctor now.
Slurred speech.	brain.	See Stroke.
Weakness in extremities.		See Transient Ischemic
		Attack.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Sudden confusion.	Low blood sugar.	Drink sweet drink or eat
Unusually long time since eating.		sweet snack. If confusion
OR		lasts longer than 10
Use of insulin or oral		minutes, call doctor.
hypoglycemic drug.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion appearing over	Effect of injury.	Call doctor now.
several weeks.		See Subdural
Fall or head injury in last 2		Hemorrhage & Hematoma.
months.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Sudden confusion.	Effect of illness.	Call doctor now.
Signs of physical illness, such
as fever, cough or loss of bladder
control.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Sudden confusion.	Drop in body temperature.	See Hypothermia.
Cold abdomen.
Recent chill.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Sudden confusion.	Adverse reaction or side	Consult doctor.
Use of prescription drug.	effect of drug.
OR
Use of mind-altering drugs,
such as marijuana or cocaine.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion appearing over	Poor nutrition.	See Vitamin C
several weeks, plus 2 or more of	Mental deterioration.	Deficiency.
following:		See Vitamin B
Inability to remember recent		Deficiencies.
events.		See Dementia.
Decline in attention to personal		See Alzheimer's
appearance or cleanliness.		Disease.
Personality change.

From the Complete Guide to Symptoms, Illness & Surgery by H. Winter Griffith, M.D. © 1995 The Putnam Berkley Group, Inc.; electronic rights by Medical Data Exchange.

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