Differential Diagnosis Mnemonics Handbook

A Differential Diagnosis Mnemonics Handbook - and the Parts of the Medical History
By Allan Platt, PA-C, MMSc
Mnemonics are memory tools to help in the memorization of long lists. These differential diagnosis and medical history mnemonics are intended to aid memorization. These mnemonics are not all inclusive and should be used in conjunction with standard textbooks of medical diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The electronic text in PDF or word has hyperlinks to navigate.
Index
Acute Abdominal Pain: "Bad Gut Pain"
Females Acute With Pelvic Pain: "Ectopic"
Amylase elevation – “Parotid”
Anemia: Macrocytic = "Big Fat Red Cells"
Normocytic = "Normal Size"
Microcytic = "Tics”
Hemolytic = "Hematologists"
Arthritis – “ Arthritics”
Arthritis Autoimmune – “Suppress”
Atrial Fibrillation – “Irregular P Waves”
Back Pain : "Disk Mass"
Bradycardia – “Bradycardias”
Chest Pain: "An Aching Heart Can Play A Part"
Clotting Disorders “Calf Dips” and “5Ps Had Caused Clots”
Clubbing: “Club”
Coma - Altered Mental Status : "Acute Clouding"
Cough: "Hacking"
Cramps in muscles – “Cramps”
Dementia – “Dementias”
Diarrhea: "Diarrheal"
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation – “DICs”
Dyspnea – “Acute Dyspnea”
Ear Ache: "Otitis"
Eye Inflammation - Red Eye: "Iritis"
Headache: "Vint Heent"
Hematuria – “ Pops Got Hematuria”
Hemoptysis – “Hemoptysis”
Hiccups (Prolonged) – “Hiccups”
Hoarsness – “Hoarseness”
Hypercalcemia – “Calcemias”
Hypertension "Pressure"
Jaundice: "Hot Thined Sap"
Lymphadenopathy:"Lymphnodes"
Metabolic Acidosis: “ Kussmal”
Nasal Congestion: "Nose Hairs"
Nodules – “Nodular”
Palmar Rash – “Palm Grease”
Pancreatitis – “Pancreatitis”
Pedal Edema/bilateral – “Can Large Legs Ruin Thin Veins?”
Pedal Edema/unilateral – “Big Toes”
Pericarditis – “Pericarditis”
Pharyngitis: "Throat Pain"
Pleuritic Chest Pain – “5 Ps”
Pruritis: "Itching”
Seizures – “Grand Mals”
Shock – “AMS and Crash”

Shoulder Pain – “Capsulitis”
SIADH – “SIADH”