What is the recommended practice when delirium is suspected?

What is the recommended practice when delirium is suspected?

• A. Assess frequently
• B. Do not assess
• C. Assess only after symptoms
• D. Avoid assessment

Answer: (A)

Delirium can start abruptly and its symptoms often fluctuate hour to hour, so the key practice is to assess frequently when delirium is suspected. Regular, repeated screening—ideally with a validated tool—on admission and then daily or as risk factors dictate helps detect early changes in attention, orientation, and consciousness, enabling prompt investigation and treatment of reversible causes (infection, dehydration, medications, electrolyte issues, pain, sensory impairment). Frequent assessment also helps distinguish delirium from dementia, which has a different trajectory. Waiting to assess until symptoms are obvious or avoiding assessment entirely increases the risk of missing delirium and leads to worse outcomes.

Delirium can start abruptly and its symptoms often fluctuate hour to hour, so the key practice is to assess frequently when delirium is suspected. Regular, repeated screening—ideally with a validated tool—on admission and then daily or as risk factors dictate helps detect early changes in attention, orientation, and consciousness, enabling prompt investigation and treatment of reversible causes (infection, dehydration, medications, electrolyte issues, pain, sensory impairment). Frequent assessment also helps distinguish delirium from dementia, which has a different trajectory. Waiting to assess until symptoms are obvious or avoiding assessment entirely increases the risk of missing delirium and leads to worse outcomes.