Delirium tremens
This article is about the disease. For other meanings delirium tremens (disambiguation).
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Delirium tremens (from Latin delirium 'madness', 'delirium', and from tremere 'tremble'; synonym alcohol delirium) is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of prolonged alcoholism. It most commonly occurs in the context of alcohol withdrawal, but less commonly can be triggered by alcohol intoxication itself. Delirium tremens can also occur in other addictive disorders during withdrawal or as a direct side effect. However, the term is usually used only for the full-blown alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Delirium is an organic psychosyndrome characterized by simultaneous disturbances of consciousness and attention, perception, thinking, memory, psychomotor function, emotionality and sleep-wake rhythm. The duration varies, and the severity ranges from mild to fatal.
Epidemiology
Lifetime prevalence: 5 % (2 to 15 %) of all alcohol-dependent persons, risk of relapse 12 to 23 %. The risk of developing delirium tremens during alcohol withdrawal is less than 1 %.
History
Spontaneous course: The lethality (mortality rate) of untreated delirium is 25%, with older and repeatedly delirious patients having a poorer prognosis, mainly due to their multimorbidity. For the remaining cases, recovery occurs after three to five days (20 days maximum). However, anxiety, sleep disturbances and mild vegetative complaints may persist for up to six months and lead to the alcoholic relapsing in the sense of self-therapy, i.e. drinking alcohol again to rid himself of these symptoms.
Approximately 50% of all alcoholic deliria are initiated by epileptic seizures (i.e. mostly in the predelirium), but these are often misdiagnosed as alcohol-induced stupor.
Delirium occurring in the context of other alcohol-related diseases such as pancreatitis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding in liver cirrhosis or pneumonia is not uncommon. If the patient is admitted to hospital for these conditions and is no longer receiving alcohol there, delirium may be added to the admission illness as an aggravating factor. This also applies to disorders of consciousness after accidents, especially after craniocerebral injuries.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is Delirium tremens?
A: Delirium tremens is the worst form of alcohol withdrawal, which can happen when a person who drinks a lot of alcohol suddenly stops drinking.
Q: Why is Delirium tremens considered as a medical emergency?
A: Delirium tremens is considered as a medical emergency because it can be life-threatening and cause seizures or death if left untreated.
Q: What does "Delirium" mean in "Delirium tremens"?
A: "Delirium" means very bad confusion that comes on quickly.
Q: What does "tremens" mean in "Delirium tremens"?
A: "Tremens" means "shaking."
Q: What causes the DTs to occur?
A: The DTs happen because the autonomic nervous system gets too excited, works too hard and will not shut off.
Q: When were the DTs first written about?
A: The DTs were first written about in 1813.
Q: Can the DTs cause seizures or death if left untreated?
A: Yes, the DTs can cause seizures or death if left untreated, and prompt medical attention is necessary to save the person's life.
