delirium tremens
Also known as alcohol withdrawal delirium, alcoholic delirium, mental and behavioral disorder due to use of alcohol: withdrawal state with delirium (disorder), the horrors, the shakes, the bottleache, quart mania, ork orks
rapid onset of confusion caused by alcohol withdrawal
Key facts
- Other names
- Alcohol-induced delirium
- Specialty
- Psychiatry , critical care medicine
- Symptoms
- Hallucinations , confusion , shaking , shivering , irregular heart rate , sweating
- Complications
- Very high body temperature , seizures
- Usual onset
- Rapid, 48-72 hours after last drink
- Duration
- 1–8 days
- Causes
- Abrupt cessation of alcohol intake in a state of alcohol dependence
- Differential diagnosis
- Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome , barbiturate withdrawal
- Treatment
- Intensive care unit , benzodiazepines , thiamine
- Prognosis
- Risk of death ~2% (treatment), 25% (no treatment)
- Frequency
- ~4% of those withdrawing from alcohol
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
Delirium tremens (DTs; lit. 'mental disturbance with shaking') is a rapid onset of confusion caused by withdrawal from alcohol. DT typically occurs 48–72 hours after the last use of alcohol and symptoms last 1–8 days. Typical symptoms include nightmares, confusion, disorientation, heavy sweating, elevated heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. Visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations are also common. DT can be fatal especially without treatment. Occasionally, a very high body temperature or seizures (colloquially known as "rum fits") may result in death. Other causes of death include respiratory failure and cardiac arrhythmias.
Delirium tremens typically occurs only in people with a high intake of alcohol for prolonged periods of time, followed by sharply reduced intake. A similar syndrome may occur with benzodiazepine and barbiturate withdrawal, however the term delirium tremens is reserved for alcohol withdrawal. In a person with delirium tremens, it is important to rule out other associated problems such as electrolyte abnormalities, pancreatitis, and alcoholic hepatitis.