Chest infection confusion

[Jaxtellerswife]

My mum is 65 and is currently in hospital after a fall. She has also got a chest infection and COPD.
When visiting her today she said and did a lot of things that concerned me. She sipped from a tea that wasn't there several times and thought she was coming home which won't be for a while. She can't remember being in the ambulance and she was vaping (don't get me started please) from a vape thing that wasn't there.
The nurse said that she seemed a bit confused. Is this normal with a chest infection? I'm very concerned

Lung issues can cause confusion as can water infections and certain medications, speak to the doctor who’s care she is under. Hopefully she’ll recover quickly it is very frightening when a loved one becomes so confused.

Confusion is a very common symptom of infection, yes. Sorry to hear your Mum is so unwell.

Seems a bit odd behaviour she seems very confused. My mum has copd and has a chest infection now. She is at home not been out for about a week, very down and frail, breathless and forgetful more than normal. I think the infection is pulling her down generally in all areas . Maybe it is the same for your mum. I would chat to the staff and see how they have found her mental and general health and go from there.

Ask the staff if they think she has delirium

Confusion is definitely a sign of infection although she has a chest infection a really really common one for confusion is a UTI, When I worked as a HCA at my local hospital for a lot of the older ladies this was really common. Could you maybe ask one of the nurses to diptest her urine? Just to rule it out? X

I'm recovering from pneumonia atm and at my sickest I was starting to get delirious. For context, I'm usually a fairly fit and healthy 32 yo.

Thanks for all of the replies. I think she's being given a full work up and had her urine tested as well. Unfortunately she broke her ankle in the fall and she's in a lot of pain so I'm thinking the pain, the infection and probably exhaustion are contributing to the confusion. Im certainly hoping so.
I will ask about delirium.
She's basically bound to her chair at home even before all of this and her tea and bloody vape are her main things she likes so maybe it's just habit or missing them.
Thankyou all I feel better for hearing infection can cause this kind of thing.

Staff should be able to do the quick 4AT to assess for delirium.

Hope she recovers quickly.

Also rosemartha I hope your mum gets well soon and brazzle, same goes for you!

@Jaxtellerswife how is your mum today?

Thank you she seemed slightly better today but still too poorly to do much.

@RoseMartha the antibiotics have started working a bit. She seems brighter and they've said once they've decided what to do with her ankle and the physio clears her she can come home. I'll be seeing her this afternoon and I'm hoping for more improvement. It's horrible to see isn't it

@Jaxtellerswife glad to hear she has improved a bit. Hope you have good news about the situation today.

Yes, it is 🤗

Well her chest infection is miles better and she's coherent, got colour back and much more with it thank goodness.
They've found that she's actually broken both of her legs and will be in hospital for the foreseeable so that's not good at all but I'm very thankful she's heading the right way now

Good news re chest infection and that she is coherent. Sorry to gear she has broken both legs, wishing her a good recovery 🤗