Delirium and Your Child
If your child is showing symptoms of delirium, it’s natural to have questions. This handout explains delirium and how you can partner with the care team to help your child through it.
What is delirium?
Delirium is a quick change in your child’s mental state or ability. It can happen when your child has a high fever or is very sick. Your child may have confusion or agitation, trouble with thinking or understanding what is happening. Delirium can be distressing for a child and family members. It usually comes on quickly, and may come and go (fluctuate), lasting for hours or days. The sooner we detect and treat delirium, the shorter delirium lasts.
Many things can cause delirium. They include:
- Surgery
- Illness
- Infection
- High fever
- Nutrient changes (ex. low sodium)
- Medication side effects
- Alcohol or drug withdrawal
- Use of breathing tubes
Does delirium have long term effects?
If we detect (see) and treat delirium quickly, it usually improves. Fast treatment helps avoid potential long-term problems, such as:
- Lasting (permanent) cognitive changes, such as memory loss, attention problems, and personality changes
- Falls and weakness that may cause injury
- Premature death
What can you do to help?
Here are some ways you can comfort and help your child. These things can both prevent and treat delirium.
1. Communicate with Your Child’s Medical Team
- You know your child best. Talk to the team about your child’s typical behavior.
- Tell your child’s team if you notice a change in your child’s behavior, mental state or ability.
2. Communicate with Your Child
- Speak slowly and clearly. Use simple words. Reassure your child.
- Tell the child where he or she is. Explain why he or she is in the hospital.
- Engage your child in play. Ask your nurse about Child Life, creative arts, and music therapies. They are available to help and can provide interactive activities, age appropriate toys and other choices to help support your child.
3. Comforts/Routine
- Keep structured daily routines and behavioral expectations (regular bedtimes, feeding times, etc). This can help your child feel safe and secure.
- Bring in familiar items from home such as books, toys, music, pictures, or a favorite blanket.
4. Vision and Hearing
- If your child needs eyeglasses and/or hearing aids, bring them to the hospital. Being able to see and hear supports understanding and eases fear.
5. Hydration
- Make sure your child has enough to drink, if your child is able to drink. Check with the nurse to see how much and what kinds of drinks are safe for your child.
6. Toileting
- Encourage your child to use the bathroom on a regular basis.
- Maintain home toileting routine. Help your child use a bedside toilet. Ask your child’s team for help.
7. Moving around (mobility)
- Support your child’s circulation, strength and muscle tone:
- Encourage your child to move every 30 minutes, even while in bed. Help your child pump ankles, wiggle toes, and open and close hands.
- Encourage your child to sit up and play.
- Help your child eat meals sitting up.
- Partner with your child’s medical team to get your child out of bed.
8. Sleep
- Help your child have a normal sleep-wake schedule:
- Try to keep your child awake during the day. This will help your child sleep better at night.
- Open the blinds and turn on lights during the day. Close the blinds and turn off lights at night.
- Our Integrative Health Team can teach you and your child relaxation techniques. Ask your child’s nurse for more information.
- Stick to bedtime rituals when possible. Turn off all screens and dim the lights at bedtime to help your child fall asleep.
- Only use one device at a time and limit screen time to one hour prior to bedtime.
Partner with the care team
If your child has delirium, the care team will help your child recover. The treatment may include:
- Pain management
- Giving medications
- Providing a structured schedule for your child: including bed and wake time
- Frequently reminding your child where they are
- Getting your child moving (mobile)
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
© NYU Langone Health. All rights reserved. Reviewed for health literacy. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care provider's instructions.
Created in partnership with families and expertise from our Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care