Human Illnesses and Problems Acronyms

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.

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.

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.

Acronym Table of Human Diseases and Disorders 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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