Confusion

Disease	Injury	Nutrition	Poison

Special Topic	Surgery	Symptoms	Test

Overview

Treatment

Confusion

Definition:

Confusion is the inability to think with your usual speed or clarity. When confused, you will also have difficulty focusing your attention and you may feel somewhat disoriented. Confusion interferes with your ability to make decisions.

Alternative Names:

Disorientation; Thinking - unclear; Thoughts - cloudy

Considerations:

Confusion may come on suddenly or gradually over time, depending on the cause. Some confused people may behave aggressively.

Many times, confusion is temporary. Other times it is permanent and not cureable. Confusion is more common in the elderly, and often occurs when hospitalized.

Common Causes:

Confusion may be caused by:

Alcohol intoxication
Low blood sugar
Head trauma or head injury
Concussion
Fluid and electrolyte imbalance
Nutritional deficiencies, particularly niacin deficiency, thiamine deficiency, Vitamin C deficiency, or Vitamin B-12 deficiency
Fever
Sudden drop in body temperature (hypothermia)
Low levels of oxygen (from for example, chronic lung disorders)
Medications, such as atropine, chloroquine, cimetidine, CNS depressants in large doses, cycloserine, digitalis, indomethacin, lidocaine, and many others. Also, withdrawal from narcotics and barbiturates
Infections
Brain tumor
Medical illness in an elderly person
Sleep deprivation
Seizures

Review Date: 8/7/2003
Reviewed By: Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Galit Kleiner-Fisman MD, FRCPC, Department of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (01/17/2001).

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