Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common among the elderly population. As with most medical issues, it can become much more serious when an elderly individual suffers from a UTI. If a person suffers from dementia or another type of memory impairment, a UTI can result in sudden and severe confusion. This is known as delirium. Below, our South Carolina nursing home infections lawyer explains more about UTI and delirium in the elderly.
What are Urinary Tract Infections?
UTIs are typically caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract through the urethra. The urethra is the tube that directs the flow of urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. Once bacteria has made its way into the urethra, it can then move up the urinary tract, infecting both the kidneys and the bladder. Common symptoms of a UTI are as follows:
- Pain in the lower back, abdomen, or pelvic area
- Pressure in the lower part of the pelvis
- Cloudy, foul-smelling urine
- Frequent urination
- Pain while urinating
- Blood in the urine
- Urinary incontinence
- Urge incontinence
Elderly individuals can be at a higher risk of developing a UTI if they have a history of these infections, bowel or bladder incontinence, or a prolapsed bladder. Women are at a much higher risk of developing a UTI than men. In fact, half of women will require treatment for a UTI at some point in their life.
What is Delirium?
Delirium refers to any change in an individual’s mental state that occurs suddenly, usually over one to two days. It is often one of the first signs that a person is not well.
Delirium can have different symptoms for different people. Some people may become withdrawn and drowsy, while others may appear distressed or agitated. One thing everyone experiencing delirium has in common is that they will become less alert or responsive to the things that are happening around them. Although delirium may seem like dementia to someone who does not know the elderly individual very well, the two are different from each other. However, dementia can make a person more prone to experiencing delirium.
While there is a link between UTIs and delirium in the elderly, there are other causes of this mental issue, as well. It is critical that the underlying cause of delirium is diagnosed as soon as possible, so elderly individuals can receive the care they need.
Can a UTI Cause Delirium?
UTIs can cause delirium in elderly individuals and people who suffer from dementia. If an elderly individual experiences a sudden and unexplained change in behavior, such as withdrawal, agitation, or confusion, it may be a case of delirium caused by a UTI. Elderly individuals are sometimes unable to communicate how they are feeling, so caregivers and family members should be familiar with the symptoms of UTIs so people can obtain the proper treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Delirium?
A sudden change in an elderly’s mental state is the most important sign of delirium. Simply put, the individual is simply not themselves.
Caregivers, family members, and friends can often do this best because they are very familiar with the person. When a medical professional is seeing the elderly person for the first time, delirium can be more difficult to detect. Some of the most common symptoms of delirium are as follows:
- Failure to respond to things occurring around them because they are not as alert
- Distracted easily
- Disorientation, failing to understand what time it is or where they are
- Have a sudden inability to perform certain tasks, such as walking or eating
- Struggle to follow a conversation or speak less clearly
- Have sudden behavioral or mood swings
- Have hallucinations
- Become paranoid or have delusions, believing strongly in things that are not true
How Does Delirium Differ from Dementia?
It is easy to confuse delirium for dementia, but the two are different. While dementia will take months or years to develop in an elderly individual, delirium is much more sudden. Delirium takes just one to two days to develop. Likewise, delirium will get better very quickly with the proper treatment, while dementia becomes worse over time.
The symptoms of dementia are also fairly consistent from one day to the next. The symptoms of delirium, on the other hand, can change as quickly as from hour to hour. Lastly, delirium is an emergency medical issue, while dementia is a long-term health problem.
Treatment for Delirium
Delirium has many different causes, such as dementia, UTIs, or side effects from a certain medication. In order to treat delirium, it is critical to treat the underlying cause. For example, a simple course of antibiotics can treat a UTI, which will in turn treat the delirium caused by the infection. While treatment for delirium can take several days or even weeks, symptoms should start to become better as soon as treatment is given for the underlying cause.
Elderly individuals experiencing delirium can also benefit from a calm and supportive environment.
As such, it is very important for caregivers, family, and friends to remember the following:
- Speak in clear, short sentences
- Remind the individual who you are and where they are
- Help them to drink and eat regularly
- Bring familiar objects from home, such as a favorite blanket or photographs
- Make sure hearing aids and glasses are clean and working, and are being used properly
- Help them establish a healthy sleep routine
- Reassure them if they have upsetting delusions or hallucinations
- Support them to get up and walk around, if it is safe to do so
Our Personal Injury Lawyers in South Carolina Can Help Prove Liability
It is essential that elderly individuals are treated for infections such as UTIs as quickly as possible so they do not suffer from delirium as well. If you believe that your loved one has not received proper care, our South Carolina personal injury lawyers at Rikard & Protopapas can determine who is liable so you obtain the maximum damages your family deserves. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal representation you need.