Disorientation is an altered mental state. A person who’s disoriented may not know their location and identity, or the time and date. Show It’s often accompanied with other symptoms such as:
Disorientation can be a symptom of different medical conditions. It’s important to look for other symptoms that accompany disorientation. Delirium and dementiaTwo common causes of disorientation are delirium and dementia. Delirium is caused by sudden abnormal brain functioning. It lasts for only a short period. It can be triggered by medications, infections, and trauma. Something as simple as a change in surroundings can also trigger delirium. For example, some adults may experience hospital delirium after surgery, or after being in intensive care. The three types of delirium are:
Hyperactive delirium may cause hallucinations and agitated behavior. Hypoactive delirium may cause drowsiness and withdrawn behavior. Mixed delirium may cause both types of behavior. Delirium is characterized by:
Delirium often happens quickly, fades away within days or weeks, and fluctuates in character. Dementia, on the other hand, develops more slowly than delirium. It’s usually permanent and causes consistent symptoms. Disorientation and short-term memory loss can be some early signs of dementia. Family members can play an important role in helping a doctor diagnose delirium and dementia. DrugsDisorientation can be a side effect of some drugs, including:
Withdrawal from certain drugs can also cause disorientation. Other causesThe following physical disorders may cause disorientation: An emergency can also cause distress or trigger mental disorders and cause disorientation. You should seek medical help for someone who’s disorientated. The following may be useful if someone is coping with disorientation, including delirium:
You should encourage someone who’s disoriented to seek medical help. Call 911 if they’re in danger of hurting themselves or others. If you experience disorientation, your doctor can suggest a treatment after diagnosing its cause. They may do some tests to help diagnose the cause of your disorientation and symptoms. Your doctor will prescribe treatment based on the underlying cause. If you take care of someone who’s prone to disorientation, their doctor may suggest ways for you to ease this symptom. An example is someone with Alzheimer’s disease. If you care for someone with Alzheimer’s, you may want to consult the Alzheimer’s Association website for information. Your outlook depends on the underlying cause for your disorientation. For example, conditions like Alzheimer’s may cause lifelong recurrences of disorientation. On the other hand, heat stroke may cause only temporary disorientation. Disorientation causes an altered mental state. There are also symptoms that can go along with this condition. It isn’t necessarily life-threatening. But, some of the illnesses that cause disorientation can be serious, so it’s important you seek medical attention and receive a proper diagnosis.
Disorientation occurs when you are confused about the time, where you are or even who you are. It can be caused by a disease, illicit drugs, an infection or one of many other causes. Signs that a person is disoriented may include:
A person with disorientation might also experience: In some people, such as those with dementia, these symptoms might develop slowly. But a person who suddenly becomes confused and disoriented should see a doctor as soon as possible — whether they’re older or young. It could be a sign that they’re unwell. What causes disorientation?A common cause of disorientation is dementia, a condition that affects a person’s thinking, behaviour and their ability to perform everyday tasks. People with dementia are more likely to develop delirium when there is a sudden disturbance in their state of mind. This is often caused by an infection or medicines. Another common cause of disorientation is drugs, especially alcohol or marijuana. It is also a side effect of some medicines. There are many other causes of disorientation. Some of the more common ones include: Some less-common causes of disorientation include: How is disorientation treated?Treatment will depend on the cause of the disorientation. It will often disappear once the underlying cause is treated. If you are caring for a person with dementia, you can help them by keeping familiar things around them in the house. Arrange furniture and objects so they can find their way around. People with dementia can suddenly become disoriented, even in previously familiar surroundings. If the person goes out, make sure they carry identification — including their name, address and an emergency contact number. For more information on disorientation and dementia, visit the Dementia Australia website or call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500. Can you prevent disorientation?You should follow your doctor’s instructions if you are taking medicines to treat the cause of your disorientation. If the cause is something that can’t be easily treated, talk to your doctor about dealing with disorientation in the future. Let your family know what to do if it happens again When to seek help for disorientationIf a person suddenly becomes disoriented, call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance. Stay with them to keep them calm until help arrives. When someone experiences symptoms of disorientation, it's important to see a doctor as soon as you are able. It's important to identify what is causing the disorientation so that the right treatment can be started as soon as possible. 09LAB_Antolin_AndreaLoraine.docx EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEaaaaaarrrrrrrllllllyyyyyy document 4FNCE001 Seminar Answers.pdf PHYS 121A Lab 215 Laboratory Report .pdf |