A post surgical client with a history of heavy alcohol intake has returned to the nursing unit. Which sign/symptoms of delirium tremendous should the nurse plan to continuously assess for.

This question lacks options, options are: A. Coarse hand tremor, agitation, hallucinations, and hypotension

B. Hypotension, ataxia, muscular rigidity, and tactile hallucinations  

C. Hypotension, stupor, agitation, headache, and auditory hallucinations  

D. Fever, hypertension, changes in level of consciousness, and hallucinations

The correct answer is D.  

Explanation:

Delirium tremens is a neurological syndrome produced by alcohol withdrawal in an alcoholic with a high dependence on this substance, which produces an acute and global deterioration of cognitive functions. The most advanced and serious stage is alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which is an emergency for medical attention and which usually appears within 72-96 hours after the last alcohol intake.The patient should be checked for disorientation, decreased level of consciousness, language alteration, perception disturbances such as illusions or hallucinations, especially visual ones, that the patient lives with great intensity and anguish. Fever, palpitations (tachycardia) and possible manifestation of seizures appear. This situation fluctuates throughout the day with streaks of higher and lower activity.