Carl has a high fever and appears disoriented. He has difficulty following his nurse's instructions to sit up and drink some water. He yells things to people who are not there, and he is difficult to understand. When his fever subsides, he no longer exhibits these symptoms. Carl's behavior is consistent with a diagnosis of

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Carl's symptoms of disorientation, difficulty following instructions, and hallucinations are all characteristic of delirium, which is often caused by medical conditions such as infection or drug toxicity. The fact that his symptoms disappeared when his fever subsided supports this diagnosis. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and multi-infarct dementia are not consistent with his acute onset of symptoms and rapid resolution.

Carl Has a High Fever and Appears Disoriented