This could be due to a number of conditions including kidney pain. An altered level of consciousness or as called LOC refers to an alteration in a patient state of awareness or the ability to relate to self and the environment and arousal or alertness ranging from a state of unconsciousness to hyper arousal. An altered level of consciousness is a symbol of a central nervous system infection or injury and is often due to an organic cause. Organic reasons can be characterized as having whichever a structural or toxic-metabolic basis. An additional communal cause of an altered level of consciousness is psychiatric-based reasons.