Human Diseases and Disorders Acronyms
Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2020/06/06 - Updated: 2024/07/25
Publication Type: Informative
Topic: Glossary and Definitions - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: List of acronyms, abbreviations, and initials that relate to human diseases and includes both infectious and non-infectious diseases and medical disorders..
• Periods (full stops) were often used when styling abbreviations, however, prevalent practice in medicine today is often to forego them as unnecessary.
• A common way to represent plurals when writing medical acronyms, abbreviations, and initials is to add a lowercase "s" without an apostrophe.
Introduction
While the vast majority of people don't really need to understand specific discipline terminology outside of their profession, medical vocabulary is one notable exception in order to know about factors regarding our health.
Main Item
A list of medical abbreviations and acronyms of the most common infectious and non-infectious human Diseases and disorders. Periods (full stops) were often used when styling abbreviations, however, prevalent practice in medicine today is often to forego them as unnecessary. In addition the most common way to represent plurals when writing medical acronyms, abbreviations, and initials is to add a lowercase "s" - without an apostrophe.
Whether you are working on mastering medical abbreviations or just looking to research a specific acronym, feel free to consult our free comprehensive guide to acronyms, abbreviations, and initials used in hospitals.
A | |
---|---|
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
AAA | Abdominal aortic aneurysm |
AAS | Aarskog–Scott Syndrome |
ABCD Syndrome | Albinism, black lock, cell migration disorder |
ACC | Agenesis of the corpus callosum |
ACS | Acute coronary Syndrome |
ACTH deficiency | Adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency |
AD | Alzheimer's Disease |
AD | Attachment disorder |
ADD | Attention deficit disorder |
ADD-RT | Attention deficit disorder – residual type |
ADEM | Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis |
ADHD | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder |
AERD | Aspirin exacerbated respiratory Disease |
AF | Atrial fibrillation |
AGS | Aicardi–Goutieres Syndrome |
AHC | Alternating hemiplegia of childhood |
AHF | Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever |
AIDS | Acquired immune deficiency Syndrome |
AIP | Acute intermittent porphyria |
ALA DD | Doss porphyria/ALA dehydratase deficiency/Plumboporphyria |
ALD | Alcoholic liver Disease |
ALI | Acute lung injury |
ALL | Acute lymphoblastic lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia |
ALS | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
AMD | Age-related macular degeneration |
AML | Acute myelogenous leukemia |
AODM | Adult onset diabetes mellitus |
AOS | Apraxia of speech |
APA | Aldosterone-producing adenoma |
APS | Antiphospholipid Syndrome |
ARBD | Alcohol-related birth defects |
ARD | Adult Refsum Disease |
ARDS | Acute respiratory distress Syndrome |
ARND | Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder |
AS | Ankylosing spondylitis |
AS | Asperger Syndrome |
ASCVD | Atherosclerotic cardiovascular Disease |
ASD | Atrial septal defect |
ASDs | Autism spectrum disorders |
ASS | African sleeping sickness |
A-T | Ataxia-telangiectasia |
AVMs | Arteriovenous malformations |
B | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
BA | Bronchial Asthma |
BBS | Bashful bladder Syndrome (see paruresis) |
BEB | Benign essential blepharospasm |
BD | Binswanger's Disease |
BEH | Behaviorally/emotionally handicapped |
BH | Behaviorally handicapped |
BMD | Becker's muscular dystrophy |
BPAD | Bipolar affective disorder |
BPD | Borderline personality disorder (often misattributed to bipolar disorder) |
BPH | Benign prostatic hyperplasia |
BS | Bloom's Syndrome |
BSE | Bovine spongiform encephalopathy |
BSS | Brown-Séquard Syndrome |
BV | Bacterial vaginosis |
C | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
CA | Cancer |
CACH | Childhood ataxia with central nervous system hypomyelination (see vanishing white matter Disease) |
CAD | Coronary artery Disease |
CADASIL | Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy |
CAPD | Central auditory processing disorder |
CCD | Considerable conduct disorder |
CCHF | Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever |
CCHS | Congenital central hypoventilation Syndrome |
CCM | Cerebral cavernous malformation |
CDG | Congenital disorder of glycosylation |
CDGS | Carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein Syndrome |
CEP | Congenital erythropoietic porphyria |
CESD | Cholesteryl ester storage Disease |
CF | Cystic fibrosis |
CFIDS | Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction Syndrome |
CFS | Chronic fatigue Syndrome |
CGBD | Corticobasal ganglionic degeneration |
CH | Cluster headache |
CHARGE Syndrome | Coloboma of the eye, heart defects, atresia of the nasal choanae, retarded growth & or development, genital abnormalities, ear abnormalities |
CHD | Congenital heart Disease |
CHD | Congenital hip dysplasia |
CHD | Coronary heart Disease |
CHF | Congestive heart failure |
CIDP | Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy |
CIPA | Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis |
CIP | Congenital insensitivity to pain |
CJD | Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease |
CKD | Chronic Kidney Disease |
CML | Chronic myelogenous leukemia |
CMs | Chiari malformations |
CMT Disease | Charcot–Marie–Tooth Disease |
COFS | Cerebro-oculo-facio-skeletal Syndrome |
COLD | Chronic obstructive lung Disease |
COPD | Chronic obstructive pulmonary Disease |
COVID-19 | Coronavirus Disease 2019 |
CP | Cerebral palsy |
CP/CPPS | Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain Syndrome |
CPDD | Calcium pyrophosphate deposition Disease |
CPM | Central pontine myelinolysis |
CPPS | Chronic pelvic pain Syndrome (see UCPPS) |
CRE | Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae |
CRF | Chronic renal failure |
CRKP | Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae |
CRPS | Complex regional pain Syndrome |
CSA | Central sleep apnea |
CSD | Cat scratch Disease |
CTE | Chronic traumatic encephalopathy |
CTF | Colorado tick fever |
CVD | Cardiovascular Disease |
CWD | Chronic wasting Disease |
D | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
DAS | Developmental apraxia of speech |
DBA | Diamond–Blackfan anemia |
DBMD | Duchenne–Becker muscular dystrophy |
DD | Developmental disability |
DEF | Deaf |
DF | Dengue fever |
DH | Developmentally handicapped |
DHF | Dengue hemorrhagic fever |
DHPR | Dihydropteridine reductase deficiency |
DI | Diabetes insipidus |
DiG | DiGeorge Syndrome |
DISH | Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis |
DJD | Degenerative joint Disease |
DLB | Dementia with Lewy bodies |
DM | Diabetes mellitus |
DMD | Duchenne muscular dystrophy |
DP | Doss porphyria/ALA dehydratase deficiency/Plumboporphyria |
DPT | Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus |
DRSP Disease | Drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae Disease |
DS | Down Syndrome |
DSPS | Delayed sleep phase Syndrome |
DTs | Delirium tremens |
DVD | Developmental verbal dyspraxia |
DVT | Deep vein thrombosis |
E | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
ED | Emotionally disturbed |
ED | Erectile dysfunction |
EDS | Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome |
EDS | Excessive daytime sleepiness |
EEE | Eastern equine encephalitis |
EHK | Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis |
EMH | Educable mentally handicapped |
EMR | Educable mentally retarded |
ENS | Epidermal nevus Syndrome |
EPM | Extrapontine myelinolysis (see central pontine myelinolysis) |
EPP | Erythropoietic protoporphyria |
ESRD | End-stage renal Disease |
ESS | Empty sella Syndrome |
EVD | Ebola Virus Disease |
F | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
FAE | Fetal alcohol effects |
FAS | Fetal alcohol Syndrome |
FASDs | Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders |
FFI | Fatal familial insomnia |
FMA | Focal muscular atrophies |
FMD | Fibromuscular dysplasia |
FMS | Fibromyalgia Syndrome |
FSP | Familial spastic paraparesis |
FTD | Frontotemporal dementia |
FUO | Fever of unknown origin |
FVS | Fetal valproate Syndrome |
Fx | Fracture |
FXS | Fragile X Syndrome |
G | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
GAD | Generalized anxiety disorder |
GAN | Giant axonal neuropathy |
GAS Disease | Group A Streptococcal Disease |
GBS | Guillain–Barré Syndrome |
GBS Disease | Group B Streptococcal Disease |
GCE | Glycine encephalopathy |
GD | Gestational diabetes |
GERD | Gastroesophageal reflux Disease |
GI | Gastrointestinal |
GIB | Gastrointestinal bleeding |
GN | Glossopharyngeal neuralgia |
GSS Disease | Gerstmann–Sträussler–Scheinker Disease |
GT/LD | Gifted and learning disabled |
GVHD | Graft-versus-host Disease |
GWD | Guinea worm Disease |
H | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
H1N1 flu | Hemagglutinin Type 1 and Neuraminidase Type 1 influenza |
HAS | Holmes–Adie Syndrome |
HCP | Hereditary coproporphyria |
HD | Huntington's Disease |
HDL2 | Huntington's Disease–like 2 |
HELLP Syndrome | Hemolytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count Syndrome |
HeV Infection | Hendra virus infection |
HFA | High-functioning autism |
HFMD | Hand, foot, and mouth Disease |
HFRS | Hemorrhagic fever with renal Syndrome |
HI | Hearing impaired |
HiB Disease | Haemophilus influenzae type B Disease |
HIBM | Hereditary inclusion body myopathy |
HMSN Type III | Hereditary motor and sensory polyneuropathy type III (see Dejerine–Sottas Syndrome) |
HOH | Hard of hearing |
HTN | Hypertension |
HPRT deficiency | Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase deficiency |
HPS | Hantavirus pulmonary Syndrome |
HPV Infection | Human papillomavirus infection |
HSP | Hereditary spastic paraplegia |
I | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
IBD | Inflammatory bowel Disease |
IBIDS Syndrome | Ichthyosis, brittle hair, intellectual impairment, decreased fertility, and short stature Syndrome |
IBM | Inclusion body myositis |
IBS | Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens |
IBS | Irritable bowel Syndrome |
IC/PBS | Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder Syndrome |
ICF Syndrome | Immunodeficiency, centromere instability and facial anomalies Syndrome |
ID | Infectious Disease |
IED | Intermittent explosive disorder |
IFAP Syndrome | Ichthyosis follicularis, alopecia, and photophobia Syndrome |
IHA | Idiopathic hyperaldosteronism |
INAD | Infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy |
IP | Incontinentia pigmenti |
IRD | Infantile Refsum Disease |
IS | Infantile spasm |
ITP | Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura |
J | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
JAS | Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis |
JE | Japanese encephalitis |
JHD | Juvenile Huntington's Disease |
JODM | Juvenile onset diabetes mellitus |
JRA | Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis |
K | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
KFD | Kyasanur Forest Disease |
KS | Kawasaki Syndrome |
KSS | Kearns–Sayre Syndrome |
KTS | Klippel–Trenaunay Syndrome |
KTW Syndrome | Klippel–Trenaunay–Weber Syndrome |
L | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
LCM | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis |
LD | Learning disabilities/differences |
LD | Legionnaires' Disease |
LEMS | Lambert–Eaton myasthenic Syndrome |
LFA | Low-functioning autism |
LGV | Lymphogranuloma venereum |
LKS | Landau–Kleffner Syndrome |
LNS | Lesch–Nyhan Syndrome |
LP | Lipoid proteinosis |
LP | Little person/people (see dwarfism) |
LUHF | Lujo Hemorrhagic Fever |
M | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
MAC | Mycobacterium avium complex |
MBD | Minimal brain dysfunction |
MCS | Multiple chemical sensitivities |
MD | Muscular dystrophy |
MDS | Myoclonic dystonia |
MDD | Major depressive disorder |
MDR TB | Multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis |
ME | Myalgic Encephalomyelitis |
MERS | Middle East respiratory Syndrome |
MI | Myocardial infarction |
MID | Multi-infarct dementia |
MJD | Machado-Joseph Disease |
ML | mucolipidoses |
MLD | Metachromatic leukodystrophy |
MMA | Monomelic amyotrophy |
MMR | Measles, mumps, rubella |
MMRV | Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella |
MND | Motor neuron Disease |
MODY | Maturity-onset diabetes of the young |
MOH | Medication overuse headaches |
MPD | Myeloproliferative disorders |
MPS I | Mucopolysaccharoidosis type I (see Hurler Syndrome) |
MPS II | Mucopolysaccharoidosis type II (see Hunter Syndrome) |
MPS III | Mucopolysaccharoidosis type III (see Sanfilippo Syndrome) |
MPS IV | Mucopolysaccharoidosis type IV (see Morquio Syndrome) |
MPS VI | Mucopolysaccharoidosis type VI (see Maroteaux–Lamy Syndrome) |
MPS VII | Mucopolysaccharoidosis type VII (see Sly Syndrome) |
MR/DD | Mentally retarded/developmentally disabled |
MS | Multiple sclerosis |
MSA | Multiple system atrophy |
MSDD | Multi-sensory developmental delays |
N | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
NAS | Neonatal abstinence Syndrome |
NBIA | Neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation |
NCIP | Novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia |
NCL | Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis |
NF1 | Neurofibromatosis type 1 |
NF2 | Neurofibromatosis type 2 |
NKH | Nonketotic hyperglycinemia |
NLD | Nonverbal learning disability |
NMDs | Neuronal migration disorders |
NMO | Neuromyelitis optica |
NMS | Neuroleptic malignant Syndrome |
NP | Niemann–Pick Disease |
NPC1 | Niemann–Pick Disease, type C1 |
NPH | Normal pressure hydrocephalus |
NTD | Neural tube defect |
NTDs | Neural tube defects |
NTDs | Neglected tropical Diseases |
O | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
OA | Osteoarthritis |
OCD | Obsessive-compulsive disorder |
ODD | Oppositional defiant disorder |
OHF | Omsk hemorrhagic fever |
OMA | Oculomotor apraxia |
ON | Osteonecrosis |
OPC | Oropharyngeal candidiasis |
OPCA | Olivopontocerebellar atrophy |
OSA | Obstructive sleep apnea |
P | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
PBC | Primary biliary cirrhosis |
PBD | Peroxisome biogenesis disorders |
PCOS | Polycystic ovarian Syndrome |
PCT | Porphyria cutanea tarda |
PD | Parkinson's Disease |
PDD | Pervasive developmental disorder |
PDD-NOS | Pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified |
PDD/NOS | Pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified |
PE | Pulmonary embolism |
PKAN | Panthothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration |
PLMD | Periodic limb movement disorder |
PLS | Primary lateral sclerosis |
PMD | Pelizaeus–Merzbacher Disease |
PML | Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy |
PMS | Premenstrual Syndrome |
POTS | Postural orthostatic tachycardia Syndrome |
PPMA | Post-polio progressive muscular atrophy |
PPS | Post-polio Syndrome |
PSC | Primary sclerosing cholangitis |
PSP | Progressive supranuclear palsy |
PVL | Periventricular leukomalacia |
PW | Port-wine stain |
Q | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
Q fever | Query fever |
QPD | Quebec platelet disorder |
QPS | Quebec platelet Syndrome |
R | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
RA | Rheumatoid arthritis |
RAD | Reactive airway Disease |
RIND | Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit |
RLF | Retrolental fibroplasia |
RLS | Restless legs Syndrome |
RMDs | Repetitive motion disorders |
ROP | Retinopathy of prematurity |
RS | Reye's Syndrome |
RSD | Reflex sympathetic dystrophy |
RTI | Respiratory tract infection |
RVF | Rift Valley fever |
S | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
SARS | Severe acute respiratory Syndrome |
SB | Spina bifida |
SBMD | Sensory-based motor disorder |
SBS | Shaken baby Syndrome |
SC | Sydenham chorea |
SD | Saint Vitus's dance (see Sydenham chorea) |
SDD | Sensory discrimination disorder |
SIDS | Sudden infant death Syndrome |
SIRS | Systemic inflammatory response Syndrome |
SIS | Shaken infant Syndrome |
SLE | Systemic lupus erythematosus |
SM | Selective Mutism |
SMA | Spinal muscular atrophy |
SMD | Sensory modulation disorder |
SMEI | Severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy |
SMS | Smith–Magenis Syndrome |
SOD | Septo-optic dysplasia |
SPD | Sensory processing disorder |
SPS | Stiff person Syndrome |
SSPE | Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis |
STEMI | ST-elevation myocardial infarction |
STD | Sexually transmitted Disease |
SUNCT | Short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing |
SWS | Sturge–Weber Syndrome |
T | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
TAC | Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgia |
TB | Tuberculosis |
TBI | Traumatic brain injury |
TCS | Tethered cord Syndrome |
TEF | Tracheoesophageal fistula |
TIA | Transient ischemic attack |
TMH | Trainable mentally handicapped |
TMJ/TMD | Temporomandibular joint disorder |
TMR | Trainable mentally retarded |
TN | Trigeminal neuralgia |
TOS | Thoracic outlet Syndrome |
TS | Tourette Syndrome |
TS | Tuberous sclerosis |
TSC | Tuberous sclerosis |
TSEs | Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies |
TSP | Tropical spastic paraparesis |
TTH | Tension type headache |
TTP | Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura |
U | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
UCPPS | Urologic Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS + CP/CPPS) |
UDA | Urticaria-deafness-amyloidosis |
UTI | Urinary tract infection |
UC | Ulcerative colitis |
URI | Upper respiratory infection |
V | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
VCFS | Velo cardio facial Syndrome |
vCJD | variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease |
VD | Venereal Disease |
VHF | Viral hemorrhagic fever |
VHL | Von Hippel–Lindau Disease |
VP | Variegate porphyria |
VSD | Ventricular septal defect |
VVC | Vulvovaginal candidiasis |
VWD | Von Willebrand Disease |
VWM Disease | Vanishing white matter Disease |
W | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
WAGR Syndrome | Wilms tumor, aniridia, genitourinary anomalies, and mental retardation Syndrome |
WD | Wilson's Disease |
WEE | Western equine encephalitis |
WS | Williams Syndrome |
X | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
X-ALD | X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy |
X-CALD | X-linked cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy |
XDH and AOX dual deficiency | Xanthine dehydrogenase and aldehyde oxidase combined deficiency |
XDH deficiency | Xanthine dehydrogenase deficiency |
XDP | X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism |
XDR TB | Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis |
XHED | X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia |
XLSA | X-linked sideroblastic anemia |
XMEN | X-linked immunodeficiency with magnesium defect, Epstein-Barr virus infection and neoplasia |
XP | Xeroderma pigmentosa |
XSCID | X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency |
XXX Syndrome | Triple X Syndrome |
Y | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
YF | Yellow Fever |
YNS | Yellow nail Syndrome |
YSS | Young–Simpson Syndrome |
YVS | Yunis–Varon Syndrome |
YY Syndrome | Double Y Syndrome |
Z | |
Acronyms | Diseases/Disorders |
ZAP-70 deficiency | Zeta-associated-protein 70 deficiency |
ZBLS | Zadik–Barak–Levin Syndrome |
ZES | Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome |
ZLS | Zimmermann-Laband Syndrome |
ZS | Zellweger Syndrome |
ZTTK Syndrome | Zhu-Tokita-Takenouchi-Kim Syndrome |
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