Delirium

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/delirium.html

Delirium is a condition which causes a confused mental state and changes in behavior. Besides falling in and out of consciousness, there may be problems with

Attention and awareness
Thinking and memory
Emotion
Muscle control
Sleeping and waking

Causes of delirium include medications, poisoning, serious illnesses or infections, and severe pain. It can also be part of some mental illnesses or dementia. Delirium and dementia have similar symptoms, so it can be hard to tell them apart. They can also occur together.
Delirium tremens is a serious type of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It usually happens to people who stop drinking after years of alcohol abuse.
People with delirium often, though not always, make a full recovery after their underlying illness is treated.