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Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

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stupor 285<br />

ment except when vigorously stimulated to brief<br />

arousal. Stupor is very near COMA on the scale <strong>of</strong><br />

CONSCIOUSNESS. Stupor may result from numerous<br />

circumstances, including HYPOGLYCEMIA (low BLOOD<br />

GLUCOSE level), INTOXICATION, HYPOXIA (lack <strong>of</strong> oxygen),<br />

injury (TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY [TBI] or CON-<br />

CUSSION), ENCEPHALOPATHY, seizures, DRUG overdose,<br />

<strong>and</strong> poisoning. Because some causes <strong>of</strong> stupor are<br />

potentially lethal, doctors attempt to identify them<br />

quickly. Treatment depends on underlying cause.<br />

See also PERSISTENT VEGETATIVE STATE; SEIZURE DIS-<br />

ORDERS; UNCONSCIOUSNESS.

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