[1] Delirium can be a presenting feature of life-threatening illness, physiological disturbance or drug intoxication

People with delirium often have serious, acute illness. In some cases the delirium is the presenting feature, with perhaps only a few other clues.

You approach a patient’s bedside with the aim of doing an assessment for delirium. The first thing you notice is that the patient is very sleepy, and they do not respond verbally to your greeting and a touch on their shoulder. They open their eyes for a few seconds, but they show no other response. They do not produce any speech.