Dementia or infection?

Dayperson

Registered User
Feb 18, 2015
278
0
Mum had a kidney infection and was coughing (I presume it was a chest infection too but heard nothing from the hospital). She was better yesterday but today she was jumpy and agitated (reacted to things on the ward happening to other patients as though it concerned her) had stary eyes and was not interested in listening to music (she usually enjoyed Coldplay).

She is basically where she was a week ago, before the kidney infection but I feel the above is an infection rather than a worsening of the dementia but how can I tell or do I have to wait for the blood tests on Monday?
 

Beate

Registered User
May 21, 2014
12,179
0
London
It could also be delirium resulting from the infection and being in strange surroundings.
 

MERENAME

Registered User
Jun 4, 2013
236
0
scotland
You can't get a baseline on the dementia until the person is 6 to 8 weeks infection free. Even the smallest infection can have big effects so often we can't be completely sure what is dementia and what is infection induced.