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Summary
A coma is a deep state of unconsciousness. An individual in a coma is alive but unable to move or respond to his or her environment. Coma may occur as a complication of an underlying illness, or as a result of injuries, such as brain injury.
A coma rarely lasts more than 2 to 4 weeks. The outcome for coma depends on the cause, severity, and site of the damage. People may come out of a coma with physical, intellectual, and psychological problems. Some people may remain in a coma for years or even decades. For those people, the most common cause of death is infection, such as pneumonia.
NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Related Issues
-
Locked-in Syndrome
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
-
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also in Spanish
Specifics
- Diabetic Coma (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Coma
(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Persistent Vegetative State
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
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Cerebral Hypoxia
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
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Coma
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.