Question

A 55 years aged chronic alcoholic male, presented with irrelevant talks, tremor and sweating. He had his last drink 3 days back. What will the probable diagnosis ?

• A. Delirium tremens
• B. Korsakoff psychosis
• C. Post-Acute withdrawal syndrome
• D. Discontinuation syndrome

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Anchor on the timeline - confusion with marked autonomic signs appearing roughly 72 hours after the last alcohol intake is the classic window for the most dangerous withdrawal state.
Step 2: That state is delirium tremens, defined by clouding of consciousness, disorientation, tremor, sweating and tachycardia.
Step 3: Pathophysiology in short - long-term alcohol up-regulates the excitatory NMDA system and props up GABA tone; sudden abstinence unmasks unopposed excitation, hence the hyperadrenergic, tremulous, sweating, confused picture.
Step 4: Distinguish the rivals - Korsakoff is a thiamine-deficiency memory disorder, while post-acute withdrawal and SSRI-type discontinuation syndromes lack this acute delirious autonomic storm.
\[\boxed{\text{Delirium tremens}}\]