Մասնակից:Tiana888/Ավազարկղ
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Կաղապար:Other uses Կաղապար:Infobox medical condition (new) Delirium tremens (DTs) is a rapid onset of confusion usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol.[1] When it occurs, it is often three days into the withdrawal symptoms and lasts for two to three days.[1] Physical effects may include shaking, shivering, irregular heart rate, and sweating.[2] People may also see or hear things other people do not.[1] Occasionally, a very high body temperature or seizures may result in death.[1] Alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs from which to withdraw.[3]
Delirium tremens typically only occurs in people with a high intake of alcohol for more than a month.[4] A similar syndrome may occur with benzodiazepine and barbiturate withdrawal.[5] Withdrawal from stimulants such as cocaine does not have major medical complications.[6] In a person with delirium tremens it is important to rule out other associated problems such as electrolyte abnormalities, pancreatitis, and alcoholic hepatitis.[1]
Prevention is by treating withdrawal symptoms.[1] If delirium tremens occurs, aggressive treatment improves outcomes.[1] Treatment in a quiet intensive care unit with sufficient light is often recommended.[1] Benzodiazepines are the medication of choice with diazepam, lorazepam, chlordiazepoxide, and oxazepam all commonly used.[4] They should be given until a person is lightly sleeping.[1] The antipsychotic haloperidol may also be used.[1] The vitamin thiamine is recommended.[1] Mortality without treatment is between 15% and 40%.[7] Currently death occurs in about 1% to 4% of cases.[1]
About half of people with alcoholism will develop withdrawal symptoms upon reducing their use.[1] Of these, three to five percent develop DTs or have seizures.[1] The name delirium tremens was first used in 1813; however, the symptoms were well described since the 1700s.[4] The word "delirium" is Latin for "going off the furrow," a plowing metaphor.[7] It is also called shaking frenzy and Saunders-Sutton syndrome.[7] Nicknames include the shakes, barrel-fever, blue horrors, bottleache, bats, drunken horrors, elephants, gallon distemper, quart mania, and pink spiders, among others.[8]