Medical Abbreviations are used for many conditions, and for instructions on medication prescribed by your doctor.
Abbreviations are used very frequently in medicine. They boost efficiency as long as they are used intelligently. The advantages of brevity should be weighed against the possibilities of obfuscation and ambiguity. Certain medical abbreviations are avoided to prevent mistakes, according to best practices; these are flagged in the list of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions.
Medical Abbreviations in English
Here is the list of medical abbreviations in English with their meanings:
1. ACE – angiotensin-converting enzyme
2. ACTH – adrenocorticotropic hormone
3. AD – Hantidiuretic hormone
4. AIDS – acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
5. BMR – basal metabolic rate
6. BP – blood pressure
7. BSA – body surface area
8. Ca – calcium
9. cAMP – cyclic adenosine monophosphate
10. CBC – complete blood count
11. DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid
12. DTP – diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis
13. D/W – dextrose in water
14. ECF – extracellular fluid
15. ECG – electrocardiogram
16. EEG – electroencephalogram
17. ENT – ear nose and throat
18. Hb – hemoglobin
19. HCl – hydrochloric acid; hydrochloride
20. HCO3 – bicarbonate
21. Hct – hematocrit
22. ICF – intracellular fluid
23. ICU – intensive care unit
24. IU – international unit
25. IV – intravenous(ly)
26. kcal – kilocalorie
27. kg – kilogram
28. mCi – millicurie
29. MCV – mean corpuscular volume
30. mEq – Milliequivalent
31. mol – wt molecular weight
32. nm – nanometer
33. O2 – oxygen
34. OTC – over-the-counter
35. Pao2 – arterial oxygen partial pressure
36. PAS – periodic acid-Schiff
37. Pco2 – carbon dioxide partial pressure
38. PCR – polymerase chain reaction
39. pH – hydrogen ion concentration
40. PMN – polymorphonuclear leukocyte
41. RA – rheumatoid arthritis
42. RBC – red blood cell
43. RNA – ribonucleic acid
44. sq – square
45. SSRI – selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
46. STS – serologic test(s) for syphilis
47. tid – 3 times a day
48. TPN – total parenteral nutrition
49. URI – upper respiratory infection
50. UTI – urinary tract infection
51. WHO – World Health Organization
52. wt – weight
53. μ – micro-; micron
54. μCi – microcurie
55. μg – microgram
56. mμ – millimicron
Common Medical Abbreviations | Images
Stacey
Tuesday 7th of May 2019
Well done. An explanation of the medical term can be helpful. For instance, SSRI, are a classification of psychiatric medications which combine an anti depressant with a calming medication. I speak English well, but these abbreviations are educational.
Dr. Gregory S kharmalki
Friday 27th of April 2018
With refreshes what I had learnt