Delirium with Pneumonia

[BerolDryWipe]

Dad aged 65 in hospital with pneumonia, has advanced cancer, has had for 3 years and this is his first infection, he was halfway through his second round of chemo.

Presented with raised temperature and confusion, so was taken into hospital, we are now on day 11, and the confusion keeps coming back, he has one good day where he is lucid and able to move around a little, then when we go back in the morning he is confused again and very weak. Dr's have said confusion is normal with infection, but it's scaring us that he picks up, only to go back down again.

His infection markers are coming down slower than they'd like, but to be expected as the chemo will be fighting the antibiotics according to his nurse.

Does anyone have any experience of this? We are so worried.

Partial experience - delirium with infection with somebody also on chemotherapy and unfortunately brain mets. Slight confusion still a few days after the initial onset but not the up and down unless tired, I wouldn’t say delirium though compared to peak of the infection. Infection can and does cause delirium but 11 days of antibiotics should be getting on top of it, have they done the cultures? Is it early sepsis or infection only?

Advanced cancer, can I ask where’s the primary please? And don’t want to alarm but has a head MRI / CT scan been done to rule out any spread?

Nasopharyngeal primary, lymph node and bones mets in 2022.

Primary and lymph nodes successfully treated with chemo and radio, bone mets kept under control with radio.

We know it has spread to the liver. He’s had 3 x CT scans and 2 x MRI’s during stay.

Oncologist has said they’re not concerned about brain mets as he has “good days” apparently he’d just keep going down if there was spread to the brain.

After tonight’s visit I’m more concerned he may be a little over served on his medication, he seems more drowsy and slow rather than confused.

for peace of mind I’d be requesting head scan, you only go down hill if there’s a bleed is my experience but can be growing and causing some confusion however it’s likely it’s the infection & antibiotics.

If you’re still concerned you can request a second opinion under Martha’s law.

We’ve been to Pals, we’ve spoken to Martha’s and they’re just saying it’s the infection.

He seems to have 1 good day, 2 bad, he does have days with zero confusion, which is why they won’t scan the brain, apparently he’d have zero good days if there was spread to the brain.

As a family we just feel a little lost at the moment.