The phrase "delirium tremens" is probably known to everyone. This disease is very scary. It has serious symptoms, no less serious consequences, sometimes even death. But at the same time, it is one of the most popular topics in jokes, humorous stories, tales. What is delirium tremens? For what reason is this ambiguity? How does it arise and how does it go?
Delirium tremens is a consequence of prolonged alcohol abuse. In Latin, it sounds like “delirium tremens,” which translates as “trembling dullness.” In medicine, delirium tremens is also called "alcoholic delirium." The people mostly use the terms "squirrel" or "protein".
General information
Delirium tremens is a consequence of alcohol abuse. "Squirrel" in most cases is observed in alcoholics with experience. These people have a second or third degree of chronic alcoholism. Usually the alcoholic experience of such people is already 5-7 years. However, such cases have also been recorded when the “protein” was observed in patients who went into binge for two to three weeks. Even cases of manifestation of alcoholic delirium in those people who are not dependent on alcohol and do not go into binges are recorded. "Squirrel" can come after drinking alcohol in huge quantities, in other words, when a person went through it. Often the cause of delirium can be low-quality alcohol.
At its core, "squirrel" is a reaction of the body to a lack of alcohol after a long binge. If in a simple way, then this is breaking. As a rule, a "squirrel" visits a person 2-5 days after he has stopped drinking alcohol. The brain during toxic drinking gets a toxic lesion. Upon the termination of the supply of new portions of alcohol, its oxygen starvation is observed. Delirium tremens develops gradually. This often depends on the physical and mental health of the patient.
Symptoms of Alcoholic Delirium
How does delirium tremens manifest? Symptoms, consequences - we all know this thanks to the work of scientists and doctors. First, we highlight the main symptoms.
The first symptoms of the “squirrel” are human sleep disturbances. He sleeps very poorly or cannot sleep at all, there is some anxiety. This condition can be accompanied by migraines, cramps, vomiting, speech impairment. At the next stage, there is an increase in anxiety, the heartbeat becomes faster, the pressure and body temperature increase. The patient’s hands tremble greatly.
Gradually, “glitches” begin - nightmares dream first, and then they turn into certain visions. A person experiences deception of hearing and sight during wakefulness: he hears the extraneous voices of people, shadows, various non-existent objects. Everywhere he sees conspiracies against him, he claims that his life is in danger.
After 2-3 days, the patient’s condition becomes even worse: he does not sleep at all, he already sees various insects crawling over his body, fabulous animals, devils, elves, gnomes. The patient is trying to escape from the threat. This condition can leave him in a couple of days, and can end more deplorably for himself and for those around him.
We distinguish the following main symptoms of alcoholic delirium:
- visual and auditory hallucinations;
- a state of insanity and insanity;
- loss of orientation in space and time;
- chills, increased pressure and temperature;
- anxiety, fear, severe nervous excitement;
- frequent mood swings: aggression and fear change into fun, and vice versa;
- nightmares or even insomnia;
- increased sweating;
- trembling hands, cramps;
- heart palpitations.
Varieties of delirium tremens
We can distinguish the following types of "squirrels":
- Reduced delirium - short-term or mild symptoms of “squirrel”.
- Atypical mixed delirium - glitches are added to mild symptoms, the landmark and sense of reality are lost. This type of "squirrel" can end abruptly or be lytic in nature, that is, gradually. In the latter case, delusions persist for a very long time.
- Severe delirium - can develop in two directions: mumbling and professional.
Types of Severe Delirium
Muttering delirium - the patient constantly mutters something inaudibly and makes strange movements: palpates, wipes, smoothes. Dehydration is also characteristic.
Professional delirium is diagnosed with movements that prevail in a person’s work environment. In this case, the patient is sure that he is at work. He makes all those movements and repeats the sounds that are in his workplace. Usually this condition passes into Korsakov’s psychosis.
Korsakovsky psychosis
Korsakovsky psychosis is a mental disorder resulting from damage to the peripheral nervous system. Delirium tremens consequences for the brain brings extremely deplorable. There is a violation of the patient's memory , amnesia - the patient forgets absolutely everything, he does not remember the past, is not even able to reproduce the events of the current day. Such people don’t remember what they call loved ones, they can ask the same stupid questions, etc. Patients are very anxious, afraid of everything. Over time, they may develop a state of euphoria, or vice versa - apathy and indifference. With Korsakov’s psychosis, disability is lost, paralysis develops. The patient becomes disabled. With a complete rejection of alcohol and intensive rehabilitation after 2-3 years, the memory can stabilize, but the performance does not return.
First aid for delirium tremens
If a person has symptoms of a “squirrel”, first of all, he should try to put him to bed and keep him in this position until the doctors arrive. You need to apply something cold to your forehead and give a lot to drink. The patient needs to calm down. For this purpose, sedative or hypnotic drugs can be given. A patient in a “squirrel” state should be constantly monitored for the safety of both him and others. In a state of delirium, a person running away from a fictitious danger can bend through the window or start fighting with improvised means, and these can be very dangerous objects.
Delirium tremens treatment
Delirium tremens - a consequence of the abuse of a kind of drug. It is impossible to overcome the "squirrel" on your own, so medical care is mandatory. The patient must be hospitalized in a psychiatric hospital. Refusal of medical care can be fraught with consequences. The state of alcoholic delirium usually lasts from two to eight days. It’s easier during the day, it even reminds a normal person, but at night the symptoms worsen.
For the treatment of "squirrels" they use psychotropic soothing drugs, as well as drugs that normalize the metabolism and water-salt balance in the body. Doctors normalize the cardiovascular system and breathing. Be sure to inject vitamins intravenously. If the patient has prolonged hallucinations, then prescribe antipsychotic drugs. However, they are not always prescribed, only in emergency cases, as they tend to aggravate seizures. After recovery, the patient is prescribed prolonged prophylactic treatment with a restriction of alcohol consumption or a complete rejection of it. Delirium tremens the consequences after treatment - even the very best - still leaves. But in what form is another question.
Effects
What is delirium tremens and what are its symptoms, it has already become clear. Now consider the consequences. From delirium tremens all organs and systems of a person suffer. Delirium tremens can have a variety of consequences - from complete recovery to death. Most often, this is a manifestation of a variety of diseases, both physical and mental. The consequences depend on how good the patient has good health. An important role is played by the degree of alcohol intoxication and the timeliness of first aid.
Here are some of the effects of delirium:
- chronic psychosis;
- violation of the heart;
- poor circulation;
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- cerebral edema;
- amnesia.
In most cases, patients who are lucky, and they have overcome the "squirrel", seek a full recovery and do not repeat the sad experience. These people become very sensitive: even with little use, a new attack can be provoked, which will be stronger. The consequences of delirium tremens after binge can already become fatal. Then save a person is almost impossible.