AEIOU-TIPS


AEIOU-TIPS is a mnemonic acronym used by some medical professionals to recall the possible causes for altered mental status. Medical literature discusses its utility in determining differential diagnoses in various special populations presenting with altered mental status including infants, children, adolescents, and the elderly. The mnemonic also frequently appears in textbooks and reference books regarding emergency medicine in a variety of settings, from the emergency department and standard emergency medical services to wilderness medicine.

The acronym

Component of acronymExamples
AAlcohol/Abuse of substances
Acidosis
Alcohol or drug intoxication
Diabetic ketoacidosis; Respiratory acidosis due to CO2 narcosia hypoventilation due to COPD,asthmatic airway obstruction, or neuromuscular disease
EEcstasy
Environmental
Epilepsy
Electrolytes
Encephalopathy
Endocrine disease
Hypothermia; hyperthermia
Epileptic seizure
Hyponatremia; hypernatremia; hypocalcemia; hypercalcemia
Wernicke's encephalopathy; Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Adrenal insufficiency; thyroid disease
IInfectionEncephalitis, meningitis, meningoencephalitis; sepsis
OOverdose
Oxygen deficiency
Prescription or non-prescription drug overdose
Hypoxia due to pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism or tension pneumothorax; hypoxic brain injury due to cardiac arrest
UUnderdose
Uremia
Insufficient dose of prescription medications
Excess urea in the blood due to kidney failure, congestive heart failure, urinary obstruction
TTrauma
Tumor
Concussion; traumatic brain injury; increased intracranial pressure due to epidural hemorrhage
Brain tumor; metastasis to the brain; paraneoplastic syndrome
IInsulin
Intestinal
Hypoglycemia; hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state
Intussusception; Intestinal malrotation with volvulus
PPsychogenic
Poisons
Psychosis; pseudoseizure; conversion disorder
Carbon monoxide poisoning; lead poisoning; iron poisoning
SStroke
Shock
Hemorrhagic stroke due to arteriovenous malformation
Neurogenic shock due to spinal cord injury; cardiogenic shock due to myocardial infarction