Abbreviations and acronyms

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    Last update: October 2023

     

    ACE angiotensin converting enzyme

    ACT 

    artemisinin-based combination therapy 

    AFB acid-fast bacillus
    ALT alanine aminotransferase
    ARV antiretroviral
    AST aspartate aminotransferase

    BCG 

    bacillus Calmette-Guérin 

    BMI body mass index

    BP 

    blood pressure 

    °C 

    degree Celsius 

    co-amoxiclav amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
    co-trimoxazole sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim
    CRT capillary refill time
    CSF cerebrospinal fluid
    CMV cytomegalovirus
    D1 (D2, D3, etc.)  Day 1 or first day (Day 2 or 2nd day, Day 3 or 3rd day, etc.)

    dl 

    decilitre 

    (e)FAST (extended) focused assessment with sonography for trauma
    FBC full blood count

    gram 

    HBP high blood pressure (hypertension)
    HF heart failure

    HIV 

    human immunodeficiency virus 

    HR heart rate
    Ig immunoglobulin

    IM 

    intramuscular 

    IO intraosseous

    IU 

    international unit 

    IV 

    intravenous

    kcal kilocalorie

    kg 

    kilogram 

    LP lumbar puncture

    mg 

    milligram 

    MIU million international units

    ml 

    millilitre 

    mmHg 

    millimetre of mercury 

    mmol 

    millimole 

    MSF Médecins Sans Frontières
    NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
    ORS oral rehydration solution or salts
    PCP pneumocystosis
    PCR polymerase chain reaction

    PO 

    per os – oral administration 

    POCUS point-of-care ultrasound
    PRBC packed-red blood cells
    RR respiratory rate
    SAM severe acute malnutrition

    SC 

    subcutaneous

    SMX sulfamethoxazole
    SMX + TMP sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim = co-trimoxazole
    SpO2 arterial blood oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry

    tab 

    tablet 

    TB 

    tuberculosis 

    TMP trimethoprim

    WHO 

    World Health Organization