Understanding Coma: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Coma

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

General

A coma is a state of unconsciousness where a person is unresponsive and cannot be woken. Someone in coma has minimal brain activity. They’re alive but show no signs of awareness. A coma state can be a result from injury to the brain, a stroke, alcohol poisoning, or a brain infection.

21 people with Coma are on Alike.

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Signs & symptoms

Signs and symptoms of coma include closed eyes, no responses of limbs and to painful stimuli, except for reflex movements, and depressed brainstem reflexes, such as pupils not shrinking in response to light.

Diagnosis

Because it’s impossible to question people in coma, doctors must rely on physical clues and information provided by their friends and families. Some of the information the doctors would have to investigate include: events leading up to the coma, details about how the patient lost consciousness, signs before losing consciousness. Physical exam, laboratory tests and brains scans are also part of the diagnosing process to assure the mental status of the patient.

Treatment

Treatment of a coma depends on the cause. Doctors may give breathing assistance, intravenous medications and other supportive care.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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