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Medicine vocabulary · Symptoms and Signs

Confusion

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/kənˈfjuːʒən/nounCommon term

In medicine, confusion means: A state in which a person cannot think clearly, is disoriented in time or place, or cannot follow what is happening around them.

In Turkish: konfüzyon, bilinç bulanıklığı, zihin karışıklığı

How it is used

Doctors separate acute confusion (delirium), often caused by infection, drugs or dehydration, from long-standing problems such as dementia. They ask relatives 'Is this new?' and test orientation and attention. Acute confusion is always a reason to look for an underlying cause.

Example sentences

  1. Her daughter says the confusion started two days ago and is worse at night.

  2. New confusion in an older patient may be the only sign of a urinary tract infection.

Common collocations

  • acute confusion
  • new confusion
  • episode of confusion
  • increasing confusion
  • dementiaA group of progressive brain conditions that gradually affect memory, thinking, behaviour and the ability to manage daily life.
  • sepsisA life-threatening reaction to an infection in which the body's response starts to damage its own organs.
  • urinary tract infectionAn infection anywhere in the system that makes and carries urine, most often the bladder; it usually causes burning and frequent urination.
  • dehydrationA state in which the body has lost more water than it has taken in, so it no longer has enough fluid to work normally.
  • capacityA patient's ability to understand, remember and weigh up information about a decision and to communicate their choice.

More terms: Symptoms and Signs

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.