Delirium (acute confusion)
More unusual causes of sudden confusion
Less common causes of sudden confusion are:
- an infection of the brain or its lining (encephalitis or meningitis)
- an imbalance of salts and minerals in the blood
- a severely underactive thyroid gland
- thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency
- a brain tumour
- hypoparathyroidism or hyperparathyroidism (rare hormone disorders)
- Cushing's disease (a tumour of the pituitary gland)
- an epileptic seizure
- carbon monoxide poisoning
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
NHS Choices information on acute (sudden) confusion, with links to other useful resources.
What to do if someone is showing signs of confusion
If the confusion has come on suddenly, take them to your nearest hospitalor call 999 for an ambulance, especially if they're showing other signs of illness such asa fever, or their skin or lips are tu
Common causes of sudden confusion
The most common causes of sudden confusion are: a lack of oxygen in the blood (hypoxia) the cause could be anything from a severe asthma attack to aproblem with the lungs or heart an infection a
More unusual causes of sudden confusion
Less common causes of sudden confusion are: an infection of the brain or its lining (encephalitis or meningitis) an imbalance of salts and minerals in the blood a severely underactive thyroid g
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