Coma

A state of profound unconsciousness from which the individual cannot be roused which is most frequently caused by trauma to the head or circulatory accidents in the brain due to hypertension, arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, tumor, abscess formation or insufficient blood flow to the brain. Other causes include systemic infection of the brain or meninges; acute infection and bacterial intoxication as in fevers, botulism and other infectious diseases; effects of drugs (alcohol, atropine, barbiturates, chloral, hyoscine, paraldehyde and phenols); electrocution; gases or fumes such as carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide or extreme temperatures.