This can be defined as a
state of unawareness or insensitivity due to interference of the important centres
in the brain e.g. hearing, touch, smell, sight and taste.
state of unawareness or insensitivity due to interference of the important centres
in the brain e.g. hearing, touch, smell, sight and taste.
Levels of Unconsciousness
1. Excitatomy: The patient is disoriented
and may make incoherent sound when affected by sensory stimulate e.g. bright
light and prickling.
and may make incoherent sound when affected by sensory stimulate e.g. bright
light and prickling.
2. Somno: Patient is more
disoriented. He may make some jerking and uncoordinated movements e.g. chewing
his mouth, nose etc.
3. Stupor: The patient falls into a
very deep sleep. He does not respond to stimulant and breathe heavily.
very deep sleep. He does not respond to stimulant and breathe heavily.
4. Coma: The patient lies down lifeless, no muscle
movement. He is deeply unconscious. He does not respond to painful stimulation.
All references are absent.
movement. He is deeply unconscious. He does not respond to painful stimulation.
All references are absent.
Causes of Unconsciousness
This can be due to primary
or secondary causes;
or secondary causes;
Primary Causes of Unconsciousness
This is when a patient
becomes unconscious as a result of injury or disease affecting the nervous
system. Examples of such causes are;
becomes unconscious as a result of injury or disease affecting the nervous
system. Examples of such causes are;
(1)Head injury disease (2)
Epilepsy (3) Poisoning (4) Infantile convulsion.
Epilepsy (3) Poisoning (4) Infantile convulsion.
Secondary Causes of Unconsciousness
Here, a patient becomes
unconscious as a result of injury or diseases which affect other systems of the
body before involving the nervous system.
unconscious as a result of injury or diseases which affect other systems of the
body before involving the nervous system.
Examples are;
(1)Asphyxia (2) Fainting
(3) Head attack (4) Cold exposure (5) Diabetic coma (6) Kidney disease
(3) Head attack (4) Cold exposure (5) Diabetic coma (6) Kidney disease
Other disorders that can
lead to unconsciousness are;
lead to unconsciousness are;
(1)Lack of oxygen in the
blood supply (2) Shortage of blood supply to the brain (3) Fainting (4) Shock
(5) Injury to the brain and disease of the brain.
blood supply (2) Shortage of blood supply to the brain (3) Fainting (4) Shock
(5) Injury to the brain and disease of the brain.
Signs and Symptom of Unconsciousness
(1)Disorientation (2) Inability
to respond to stimuli (3) Uncoordinated movement or jerking (4) Deep sleep (5) Heavy
breath (6) The victim’s skin is cold and clammy while the face is pale.
to respond to stimuli (3) Uncoordinated movement or jerking (4) Deep sleep (5) Heavy
breath (6) The victim’s skin is cold and clammy while the face is pale.
First Aid Care for an Unconscious Person
(1)Firstly, determine the
cause of the unconsciousness (2) If breathing has stopped, apply artificial respiration
(3) If there is bleeding, arrest it (4) Place the victim in a recovery position
(5) Clear the mouth of any obstruction such as vomit or blood (6) Loosen clothing
at the neck, chest and waist (7) Treat for shock (8) Seek medical aid
immediately.
cause of the unconsciousness (2) If breathing has stopped, apply artificial respiration
(3) If there is bleeding, arrest it (4) Place the victim in a recovery position
(5) Clear the mouth of any obstruction such as vomit or blood (6) Loosen clothing
at the neck, chest and waist (7) Treat for shock (8) Seek medical aid
immediately.
