These symptoms will usually change from more severe to less severe several times over a 24-hour period. These are a great number of causes. Delirium can also result from illness, head injury, liver or kidney disease, or occur in people after surgery. Symptoms may include tremors, fever, and hallucinations of sight, hearing and touch. The person almost always is unable to focus their attention and may have rambled speech.
Sleep patterns are often disturbed and emotional swings are common.
Depending on the cause, an episode of delirium may last a day, a week or much longer and the symptoms come and go throughout that time. Not everyone gets the DTs when they are going through alcohol or drug withdrawal. The people who get DTs often have a medical problem in addition to the substance abuse. Children and people over the age of 60 are at greater risk for delirium. Delirium is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical treatment.