Delirium tremens requires rapid hospitalisation and emergency treatment. Agitation, shaking and terrifying hallucinations are the typical signs of delirium tremens. It may be necessary temporarily to restrain the patient physically. Death or serious neurological sequelae occur in the absence of medical intervention. These days, delirium tremens is rarely seen, due to early treatment of alcoholic patients.

Characteristics
Delirium tremens appears 48-96 hours after the last drink in patients with a high degree of alcohol dependency. Typically, it manifests itself by at least two of the following symptoms, which are evidence of significant changes to the nervous system: mental confusion, abnormal perception (errors of interpretation, hallucinations), disruption of the sleep/wake cycle with insomnia or daytime sleepiness, increase or decrease in psychomotor activity, temporo-spatial disorientation, non-recognition of close family members and friends, memory problems, epilepsy, generalised convulsive seizures.

Treatment
The patient is rehydrated with large amounts of intravenous physiological fluids immediately on arrival at hospital. Tranquillisers, hypnotics, sedative neuroleptics and group B vitamins are also administered. After treating the attack of delirium tremens, it is essential that the patient goes through a course of withdrawal treatment in a hospital environment.