Drug misuse should always be considered in young people with impaired consciousness

Authors

K R. Whelan, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust, London
Alison L. Jones, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust, LondonFollow
Paul I. Dargan, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Trust, London

RIS ID

62735

Publication Details

Whelan, K. R., Jones, A. L. & Dargan, P. I. (2003). Drug misuse should always be considered in young people with impaired consciousness. British Medical Journal, 326 (7385), 396-397.

Abstract

We agree with Ikeda et al that the absence of systolic hypertension may provide some discriminatory power towards exclusion of brain lesions, be they ischaemic, haemorrhagic, or space occupying in nature.1 However, we disagree with them that neurological examination of patients with impaired consciousness is often a waste of time and resources and can delay diagnosis.