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==Infectious==
==Infectious==
'''[[Encephalitis]]'''
[[Encephalitis]]
*Mental status changes - personality/behavior changes
*Mental status changes - personality/behavior changes
*Unlikely to have fevers, meningismus
*Unlikely to have [[fever]]s, meningismus
*High risk: same for meningitis, live near water  
*High risk: same for meningitis, live near water  


'''[[Meningitis]]'''
[[Meningitis]]
*Usually other etiology for altered mental status, but if negative workup do LP
*Usually other etiology for altered mental status, but if negative workup do LP
*Consider [[Ampicillin]] for [[listeria]]
*Consider [[Ampicillin]] for [[listeria]]
*Consider [[acyclovir]] for [[HSV]]
*Consider [[acyclovir]] for [[HSV]]
*High risk: [[HIV]], [[DM]], malignancy, s/p [[ceftriaxone]], prior NSG, [[alcoholism]], recent [[sinusitis]]
*High risk: [[HIV]], [[DM]], malignancy, s/p [[ceftriaxone]], prior neurosurgery, [[alcoholism]], recent [[sinusitis]]


'''[[Pneumonia]]'''
[[Pneumonia]]
*False negative CXR ~15-20%
*False negative [[CXR]] ~15-20%
*High morbidity   
*High morbidity   


'''[[UTI]]'''
[[UTI]]
*Very common etiology for altered mental status in elderly
*Very common etiology for altered mental status in elderly
*Straight cath UA
*Straight cath [[UA]]
*Resistant organisms likely, look up old urine culture + sensetivity  
*Resistant organisms likely, look up old urine culture + sensitivity  
*High risk: pelvic relaxation, indwelling foley >2wks (check for one), BPH, history prostate cancer  
*High risk: pelvic relaxation, indwelling foley >2wks (check for one!), BPH, history prostate cancer  


'''[[Cholecystitis]]'''
[[Cholecystitis]]
*May not have RUQ pain or GI symptoms
*May not have [[RUQ pain]] or GI symptoms
*Ask about history of gallstones/US RUQ
*Ask about history of gallstones/[[RUQ Ultrasound|US RUQ]]


'''Skin/Soft Tissue'''
Skin/Soft Tissue
*Completely undress to examine
*Completely undress to examine
*Often decubitus ulcers present
*Often [[decubitus ulcers]] present
**Old photos helpful
**Old photos helpful
*Consider fistula, [[osteomyelitis]], [[necrotizing fasciitis]]
*Consider fistula, [[osteomyelitis]], [[necrotizing fasciitis]]
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==Metabolic/Toxic/Polypharmacy==
==Metabolic/Toxic/Polypharmacy==


'''Withdrawal/Overdose'''
Withdrawal/Overdose
*Chronic [[opioid]]/[[benzodiazepine]]/[[zolpidem]] (Ambien) use
*Chronic [[opioid]]/[[benzodiazepine]]/[[zolpidem]] (Ambien) use
*[[ETOH abuse]] - may not experience tremors in [[ETOH withdrawal]]
*[[ETOH abuse]] - may not experience [[tremor]]s in [[ETOH withdrawal]]


'''Polypharmacy'''
Polypharmacy
*[[NSAIDS]] - may be taking multiple  
*[[NSAIDS]] - may be taking multiple  
**Long term [[ASA]]
**Long term [[ASA]]
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'''Other'''
Other
*[[Cardiac Ischemia]] - no chest pain needed
*[[Cardiac Ischemia]] - no chest pain needed
*[[Seizure]] v Post ictal
*[[Seizure]] v Post ictal
*Urinary retention - uremia
*[[Urinary retention]] - [[uremia]]
*Fecal impaction
*[[Fecal impaction]]
*Occult [[mesenteric]] ischemia
*Occult [[mesenteric ischemia]]
*[[Electrolyte abnormalities]] (e.g. Ca/Mg/Phos)
*[[Electrolyte abnormalities]] (e.g. Ca/Mg/Phos)


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*[[Altered Mental Status]]
*[[Altered Mental Status]]
*[[Geriatrics (Main)]]
*[[Geriatrics (Main)]]
*https://www.aliem.com/2013/08/a-time-based-approach-to-elderly-patients-with-altered-mental-status/


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Neurology]]
[[Category:Misc/General]]
[[Category:Misc/General]]
[[Category:Symptoms]]

Revisión actual - 09:26 22 mar 2026

Background

  • Elderly patients present differently with common issues
  • Unique aspects of elderly altered mental status
  • See altered mental status for complete differential list
  • Dementia should be diagnosis of exclusion

Infectious

Encephalitis

  • Mental status changes - personality/behavior changes
  • Unlikely to have fevers, meningismus
  • High risk: same for meningitis, live near water

Meningitis

Pneumonia

  • False negative CXR ~15-20%
  • High morbidity

UTI

  • Very common etiology for altered mental status in elderly
  • Straight cath UA
  • Resistant organisms likely, look up old urine culture + sensitivity
  • High risk: pelvic relaxation, indwelling foley >2wks (check for one!), BPH, history prostate cancer

Cholecystitis

  • May not have RUQ pain or GI symptoms
  • Ask about history of gallstones/US RUQ

Skin/Soft Tissue

Metabolic/Toxic/Polypharmacy

Withdrawal/Overdose

Polypharmacy


Other

See Also

References

ACEP Academic Affairs Committee Geriatric Video lecture series SAEM Academy of Geriatric Emergency Medicine