clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Delirium tremens is a severe withdrawal reaction in a patient who has drunk heavily for several years.
There may be a 24-hour prodromal period in which the patient may be apprehensive, experience mild disorientation, and may fit.
The features of delirium tremens are:
- delirium:
- often worse at night
- disorientation in time and place
- clouding of consciousness
- impairment of recent memory
- agitation
- gross tremor of the hands
- sympathetic overactivity:
- sweating
- raised blood pressure
- hypertension
- pupil dilatation
- hallucinations/pseudohallucinations:
- often visual, also aural
- the content is often frightening
- dehydration and disturbed blood biochemistry:
- leucocytosis
- raised ESR
- poor liver function tests
The patient usually is usually much improved after 36 hr.