Common underlying causes of delirium are:
- Medications
- Metabolic and fluid/ derangements: e.g., hypoglycemia, dehydration, hypo/hypernatremia, hypercalcemia
- Organ dysfunction- e.g. CHF, uremia, liver failure, shock, stroke, brain metastases
- Infections: e.g. UTI, pneumonia - remember in the elderly or immunosuppressed may not manifest with classic signs such as fever or cough
- Hypoxia
- Drug withdrawals
- Constipation
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
Remember: Cause is often multi-factorial