Coma

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition Symptoms Causes When to seek medical advice

Tests and diagnosis Complications Treatments and drugs

Definition

A coma is a state of prolonged unconsciousness that can be caused by a wide variety of problems — traumatic head injury, stroke, brain tumor, or even an underlying illness, such as diabetes or an infection.

A coma is a medical emergency. Swift action is needed to preserve life and brain function. Doctors typically order a battery of blood tests and brain scans to try to determine what's causing the coma so that proper treatment can begin.

Comas seldom last longer than a few weeks. People who are unconscious for longer than that are usually reclassified as being in a persistent vegetative state. People who are in a persistent vegetative state for more than a year are extremely unlikely to awaken.

NEXT:

Symptoms