What causes confusion in geriatric patients with acute infections?
Question:
Answers:
decreased oxygen to the brain cells, at the most basic level. the infection uses oxygen, fever uses oxygen, and depending on where the infection is, respiration and/ or circulation may be impaired by the infection itself. plus, late in acute infections, blood vessels may dilate and leak, further comprimising circulation.
Other Answers:
Most likely fever.. but not limited to geriatric patients.
It takes brains to stay alive and healthy for a long time. When a senior can't manage to stay healthy others are brought in to think for the person. Only you know your body best. Seniors will die when they can move and stay clean.
lack of hydration is a very common cause. Geriatric patients often lose their taste for water and fluids in general and then when they get thirsty the thirst doesn't register in their brain, so instead of drinking water they tend to just lay down and do nothing. Of course the infection itself can be another cause and also strong antibiotics often knock the elderly for a loop causing the same behavior as described above when they don't drink enough water. It's a vicious circle.
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