| Obtundation | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Emergency medicine |
Obtundation is mild to moderatealertness reduction (altered level of consciousness) with decreased interest in the environment and slower than normal reactivity to stimulation.[citation needed] It is distinguished from the much stronger states of unresponsiveness ofstupor andcoma. Obtundation typically occurs as a result of amedical condition ortrauma.[1]
There is a wide range of potential causes includinghead injury, interruption of blood circulation, impaired oxygenation or carbon dioxide toxicity (hypercapnia), central nervous system (CNS) infections, drug intoxication or withdrawal, post-seizure state,hypothermia, and metabolic derangements such ashypoglycemia,hyponatremia, andhypercalcaemic crisis.[2]
Symptoms include delayed reaction time, lessened interest in the environment, very short attention span, and excessive sleeping.[3]
The root word,obtund, means "dulled or less sharp" (cf.obtuse angle).
The dictionary definition ofobtundation at Wiktionary