Final answer:
Hypercalcemia, an excess of calcium in the blood, leads to symptoms such as lethargy and confusion. It is treated by rehydration, diuretics, and medications like bisphosphonates or calcitonin, alongside addressing its underlying causes like primary hyperparathyroidism or cancers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hypercalcemia is a condition characterized by abnormally high levels of calcium in the blood. Symptoms associated with this condition may include lethargy, sluggish reflexes, constipation, loss of appetite, confusion, and in severe cases, coma. Calcium homeostasis, which typically maintains a blood calcium level around 10 mg/dL, is crucial for various body functions. It is regulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH), vitamin D, and calcitonin, along with the skeletal, endocrine, digestive, and urinary systems.
The treatment for acute symptomatic hypercalcemia usually involves rehydration with intravenous fluids, diuretics to promote calcium excretion, and medications such as bisphosphonates or calcitonin to lower the calcium levels. In some cases, treatment of the underlying cause, for example, primary hyperparathyroidism or malignancies that result in hypercalcemia, is also necessary. Medical conditions like multiple myeloma can either cause hypercalcemia directly or lead to chronic renal failure through mechanisms like cast nephropathy.