Tertiary (late) syphilis. About 15 to 30 percent of people infected with syphilis who don't get treatment will develop complications known as tertiary (late) syphilis. In the late stages, the disease may damage your brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints.
Signs of dehydration in the elderly can be subtle. Confusion and disorientation. Elderly people can become confused for a variety of reasons; dehydration is one of them. It also comes with physical symptoms that include dizziness, difficulty walking, and disorientation.
Psychotropic medications, such as antipsychotics, cause dryness of the mouth, constipation or urinary retention, which can affect hydration. Additionally, older adults are often taking several medications at once, further complicating the problem. Illness. Vomiting is a major cause of dehydration, because of fluid loss. A fever has the same effect, and generally the higher your fever, the more dehydrated you may become. A combination of diarrhea and vomiting, as in Walterâs case, can increase the risk of serious health issues. Older adults also tend to eat less, which can also mean less liquid intake. Nursing homes present their own challenges for hydration of elderly residents (see sidebar). Severe Consequences of Dehydration. Dehydration can lead to serious complications, including (from the Mayo Clinic): Swelling of the brain (cerebral edema).