Final answer:
Alcohol withdrawal syndrome typically leads to the onset of confusion, fluctuations in consciousness, and tactile hallucinations within 48 to 72 hours. The patient's symptoms are consistent with alcohol withdrawal, including tonic-clonic seizures, elevated blood pressure and heart rate, and slightly elevated body temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symptoms described in the question are consistent with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. It typically occurs within 6 to 48 hours after the last drink, but severe cases may start sooner. The onset of confusion, fluctuations in consciousness, and tactile hallucinations, such as the feeling of ants crawling on the skin, is usually seen within 48 to 72 hours of alcohol withdrawal.
The patient in the question is a 50-year-old known alcoholic who presents to the ER with tonic-clonic seizures. These seizures are a common symptom of alcohol withdrawal and are usually a result of hyperexcitability in the central nervous system.
The elevated blood pressure and heart rate, as well as the slightly elevated body temperature, are also consistent with alcohol withdrawal. If left untreated, alcohol withdrawal syndrome can progress to delirium tremens, a severe form of withdrawal characterized by severe confusion, hallucinations, and autonomic instability.