title: Acute confusion secondary to steroid eye drops.
abstract: We present a case of a 90-year-old woman who presented to the acute medical unit with a new onset presentation of confusion. Her abbreviated mental test on admission was 5/10. Biochemical screen including full blood count, urea and electrolytes, C reactive protein and liver function test and imaging such as chest X-ray and CT of the head were normal. The patient had recently been started on steroid eye drops for shingles. Suspension of this medication was followed by a resolution of confusion with the abbreviated mental test on discharge improving to 9/10. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first presentation of a link between steroid eye drops and acute confusion.
authors.affiliation: Heart of England Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.affiliation: Heart of England Trust, UK.
authors.forename: Bander
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dallol
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013256:Steroids