Confusion (Person Under 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, plus any of	Decreased blood supply to	Call doctor now.
following:	brain.	See Stroke.
Blurred vision.		See Transient Ischemic
Dizziness.		Attack.
Numbness or tingling in any
part of body.
Speaking difficulty.
Weakness in extremities.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion in a child.	Brain and liver infection.	See Reye's Syndrome.
Lethargy; weakness; paralysis
in an arm or leg.
Personality changes.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion.	Adverse reaction or side	Consult doctor.
Alcohol consumption either	effect of alcohol.	Stop drinking alcohol.
alone or with drug.	Drug interaction.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Sudden confusion.	Brain injury.	Call doctor now.
Recent head injury.		See Head Injury.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion.	Vitamin deficiency.	Consult doctor for proper
Excessive dieting.		method of weight control.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion in a woman of	Infection.	Call doctor now.
childbearing age.		See Toxic Shock
Sudden fever of 101F (38.3C)		Syndrome.
or higher.
Vomiting.
Skin rash.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion.	Effect of fever.	Call doctor now.
Fever of 103F (39.4C) or		See Fever of Unknown
higher.		Origin.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion, plus any of	Complication of underlying	Call doctor now.
following:	disorder.
Heart disease.
Lung disease.
Diabetes.
Symptoms:	Possible Problems:	What To Do:
Confusion, plus any of	Mental illness.	Call doctor now.
following:	Sugar in the urine.	See Diabetes Mellitus,
Agitation.	Bleeding inside skull.	Insulin Dependent.
Delirium.	Tumor.	See Diabetes Mellitus,
Disorientation.		Non-Insulin Dependent.
Inability to recognize others.		See Diabetic
Hallucinations.		Hypoglycemia.
		See Subdural
		Hemorrhage & Hematoma.
		See Brain Tumor.

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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