+ve | positive |
–ve | negative |
↑ | increase |
↓ | decrease |
♀ | female |
♂ | male |
→ | leading to/resulting in |
± | with or without |
AAA | aortic abdominal aneurysm |
ac | before meals |
ABOI | blood groups ABO incompatibility |
ABC | airway, breathing, circulation |
ACE | angiotensin-converting enzyme |
ACL | anterior cruciate ligament |
ACR | albumin creatinine ratio |
ACS | acute coronary syndrome |
ACTH | andrenocorticotropic hormone |
AD | autosomal dominant |
ADH | antidiuretic hormone |
ADHD | attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
ADT | adult diphtheria and tetanus vaccine |
AF | atrial fibrillation |
AIDS | acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
AIIRA | angiotensin II reuptake antagonist |
aka | also known as |
ALL | acute lymphocytic leukaemia |
ALP | alkaline phosphatase |
ALT | alanine aminotransferase |
ALTE | apparent life-threatening episode |
AMI | acute myocardial infarction |
AML | acute myeloid leukaemia |
ANA | anti-nuclear antibodies |
ANCA | anti-neutrophil cyctoplasmic antibody |
anv | anorexia, nausea, vomiting |
AOM | acute otitis media |
AP | anterior-posterior |
aPTT | activated partial thromboplastin time |
AR | autosomal recessive |
ARB | angiotensin II reuptake blocker |
ARC | AIDS-related complex |
ARDS | acute respiratory disease syndrome |
ART | anti-retroviral therapy |
ASAP | as soon as possible |
AST | aspartate aminotransferase |
ATSIP | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples |
AV | atrioventricular |
BCG | bacille Calmette–Guérin |
bDMARDs | biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs |
BMD | bone mass density |
BOO | bladder outlet obstruction |
BMI | body mass index |
BP | blood pressure |
bpm | beats per minute |
BPPV | benign paroxysmal positional vertigo |
CABG | coronary artery bypass grafting |
CAD | coronary artery disease |
CBT | cognitive behaviour therapy |
CCB | calcium-channel blocker |
CCF | congestive cardiac failure |
CCP | cyclic citrullinated peptide |
cfu | colony forming unit |
CHC | combined hormone contraception |
CHF | coronary heart failure |
CK | creatinine kinase |
CKD | chronic kidney disease |
CLL | chronic lymphocytic leukaemia |
CMC | carpometacarpal |
CMV | cytomegalovirus |
co | compound |
CO | carbon monoxide |
CNS | central nervous system |
COC/COCP | combined oral contraceptive pill |
COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
COX | cyclooxygenase |
CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure |
CPK | creatine phosphokinase |
CR | controlled release |
CRFM | chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria |
CRP | C-reactive protein |
CSF | cerebrospinal fluid |
CT | computerised tomography |
CTD | connective tissue disorder |
CTS | carpal tunnel syndrome |
CVA | cerebrovascular accident |
CXR | chest X-ray |
DDH | developmental dysplasia of hip |
DEXA | dual energy X-ray absorptiometry |
DIC | disseminated intravascular coagulation |
DIP | distal interphalangeal |
DMARDs | disease modifying antirheumatic drugs |
DOACs | direct oral anti-coagulants |
DRABCD | assess dangers, assess response, send for help, open airway, breaths, chest compression, defibrillation |
drug dosage | bd—twice daily; tid, tds—three times daily; qid, qds—four times daily |
DRE | digital rectal examination |
DS | double strength |
dsDNA | double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid |
DST | daylight savings time |
DTP | diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis |
DU | duodenal ulcer |
EBM | Epstein–Barr mononucleosis glandular fever |
EBV | Epstein–Barr virus |
ECG | electrocardiogram |
ECT | electroconvulsive therapy |
EEG | electroencephalogram |
eGFR | e glomerular filtration rate |
ELISA | enzyme linked immunosorbent assay |
ENA | extractable nuclear antigen |
esp. | especially |
ESR | erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
FB | foreign body |
FBE | full blood count |
FEV1 | forced expiratory volume in 1 second |
fL | femto-litre (10−15) |
FOBT | faecal occult blood test |
fna | fine-needle aspiration |
FSH | follicle stimulating hormone |
FTT | failure to thrive |
FUO | fever of undetermined origin |
FVC | forced vital capacity |
GABHS | group A betahaemolytic Streptococcus |
GFR | glomerular filtration rate |
GGT | gamma glutamyl transferase |
GH | growth hormone |
GIT | gastrointestinal tract |
GLP | glucagon-like peptide |
GORD | gastro-oesophageal reflux disease |
G6PD | glucose–6–phosphate dehydrogenase |
GU | gastric ulcer |
HAV | hepatitis A virus |
Hb | haemoglobin |
HBsAg | hepatitis B surface antigen |
HBV | hepatitis B virus |
HCG | human chorionic gonadotrophin |
HCV | hepatitis C virus |
HDL | high-density lipoprotein |
HDLC | high-density lipoprotein cholesterol |
HIDA | hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid |
HIV | human immunodeficiency virus |
HLA-B27 | human leucocyte antigen |
HMG | hydroxymethyl-glutaryl |
HRT | hormone replacement therapy |
HSV | herpes simplex virus |
IA | intra-articular |
ICS | inhaled corticosteroid |
ICS | intercondylar separation |
ICT | immunochromatographic test |
IDDM | insulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
IgA | immunoglobulin A |
IGRA | interferon gamma release assay |
IM/IMI | intramuscular/intramuscular injection |
INR | international normalised ratio |
IOFB | intraocular foreign body |
IR | internal rotation or immediate release |
ITP | idiopathic thrombocytic purpura |
IUCD | intrauterine contraceptive device |
IUD | intrauterine device |
IV | intravenous |
IVF | in vitro fertilisation |
KFT | kidney function test |
KS | Kaposi sarcoma |
KUB | kidney, ureter, bladder |
LA | local anaesthetic |
LAβA | long-acting beta antagonist |
LAD | left anterior descending artery |
LBC | liquid-based cytology |
LDLC | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol |
LFTs | liver function tests |
LH | luteinising hormone |
LHRH | luteinising hormone releasing hormone |
LIF | left iliac fossa |
LMN | lower motor neurone |
LMW | low molecular weight |
LRTI | lower respiratory tract infection |
LUT | lower urinary tract |
MAOI | monamine oxidase inhibitor |
mcg | microgram (also µg) |
MCU | microscopy and culture of urine |
MCV | mean corpuscular volume |
MDR-TB | multi-drug resistant tuberculosis |
MHT | menopausal hormone treatment |
MI | myocardial infarction |
MMSE | mini-mental state examination |
MRCP | magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography |
MRI | magnetic resonance imaging |
MSU | mid-stream urine |
MTP | metatarsophalangeal |
N saline | normal saline |
NAAT | nucleic acid amplification technology |
NIDDM | non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
NIPT | non-invasive prenatal test |
NOACs | new oral anticoagulants |
NR | normal range |
NSAIDs | non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs |
NSTEACS | non-ST elevated acute coronary syndrome |
NSU | non-specific urethritis |
(o) | taken orally |
OA | osteoarthritis |
OGTT | oral glucose tolerance test |
OP | outpatient |
OTC | over-the-counter |
PA | posterior anterior |
PAD | peripheral arterial disease |
Pap | Papanicolaou |
PCI | percutaneous coronary intervention |
PCOS | polycystic ovary syndrome |
PCR | polymerase chain reaction |
PE | pulmonary embolism |
PEF | peak expiratory flow |
PET | positron emission tomography |
PFT | pulmonary function test |
PID | pelvic inflammatory disease |
PJP | pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia |
PKU | phenylketonuria |
PPI | proton-pump inhibitor |
PR | per rectum |
PRh | polymyalgia rheumatica |
PSA | prostate specific antigen |
PSVT | paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia |
PTCA | percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty |
RAP | recurrent abdominal pain |
RCA | right coronary artery |
RIB | rest in bed |
RICE | rest, ice, compression, elevation |
RIF | right iliac fossa |
RSI | repetition strain injury |
RSV | respiratory syncytial virus |
rtPA | recombinant tissue plasminogen activator |
SAβA | short-acting beta antagonist |
SAH | subarachnoid haemorrhage |
SARS | sudden acute respiratory distress syndrome |
SC/SCI | subcutaneous/subcutaneous injection |
SCFE | slipped capital femoral epiphysis |
SCG | sodium cromoglycate |
SD | standard deviation/standard drink |
SL | sublingual |
SLE | systemic lupus erythematosus |
SND | sensorineural deafness |
SNRI | serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor |
SOCRATES | site, onset, character, radiation, alleviating factors, timing, exacerbating factors and severity (for pain) |
SROT-SARA | side, radiation, onset and offset, type (quality), severity, aggravating factors, relieving factors and associations |
SSRI | selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors |
STEMI | ST elevated myocardial infarction |
STI | sexually transmitted infection |
TA | temporal arteritis |
TC | total cholesterol |
TCA | tricyclic antidepressants |
TENS | transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation |
TFT | thyroid function test |
TG | triglyceride |
TIA | transient ischaemic attack |
TIBC | total iron binding capacity |
time | s—second; min—minute; h—hour; d—day; wk—week; mth—month; y—year |
TM | tympanic membrane |
TMJ | temporomandibular joint |
TOF | tracheo-oesophageal fistula |
TORCH | toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes virus |
TSH | thyroid-stimulating hormone |
T3 | tri-iodothyronine |
T4 | free thyroxine |
UC | ulcerative colitis |
URTI | upper respiratory tract infection |
US | ultrasound |
UT/UTI | urinary tract/urinary tract infection |
VBI | vertobrobasilar insufficiency |
VF | ventricular fibrillation |
VPG | venous plasma glucose |
VT | ventricular tachycardia |
vWD | von Willibrand disease |
WBC | white blood cells |
WCC | white cell count |
WHO | World Health Organization |
WPW | Wolff-Parkinson White |