Medical Acronyms Trivia Quiz

Answer:

CBC stands for 'complete blood count', which is more commonly known as FBC, meaning 'full blood count', in the UK. As the name implies, the test measures the various components of the blood including red and white blood cells and platelets. It helps doctors identify conditions and decide on a course of action.

NPO means 'nothing by mouth' and you are likely to see a sign with these initials above your bed while waiting to be taken for surgery. The letters come from the Latin words 'nil per os' which mean the same thing.

MMR refers to a combined vaccine given to protect against childhood illness. The letters stand for 'measles, mumps and rubella' - the latter often being called German measles to distinguish it from the more serious infection of measles. The vaccine is normally given to babies when they are about a year old with a booster given before the child starts school.

IUD is an abbreviation which may be more familiar to females as it stands for 'intrauterine device', a form of birth control. It is also referred to as a 'coil', reflecting the shape of the device which is placed in the uterus (womb) and prevents a fertilised ovum from implanting.

NAD is another abbreviation often found in notes and just means 'nothing abnormal discovered'. This is what many of us would hope to see after having various tests.

BCG refers to another type of vaccine, this time against tuberculosis. It used to be offered automatically in the UK but is now only given to those at particular risk, e.g. those travelling to countries where the disease is common. The initials stand for 'Bacillus Calmette-Guérin' - the two names refer to the two men who created the vaccine.

'Obsessive compulsive disorder' is often abbreviated to OCD. It is a mental condition in which the patient is unable to free their mind of thoughts and images which cause them anxiety which is often alleviated by constantly repeating actions. These might be checking over and over again that the door has been locked or the stove turned off.

Many of us will have heard of BMI, referring to 'body mass index' which is the ratio of the person's weight in relation to their height. The higher the number, the more at risk the person is of suffering from health problems. At the other end of the scale, being underweight is also a risk factor. BMI is an indicator rather than being an exact science.

DVT is short for deep vein thrombosis, a potentially serious condition when a blood clot forms, often in the leg although it can occur in other parts of the body. The danger comes if the clot block the blood vessel. Older and inactive people are more at risk of developing DVT.

Primarily used in a hospital setting, at least in the UK, the abbreviation ENT refers to 'ears, nose and throat'. This is the department which specialises in diseases affecting this part of the body.

HRT stands for 'hormone replacement therapy', which is given to women who are suffering from some of the unpleasant symptoms associated with the menopause. This is the time of life when periods tail off and the production of hormones reduces. Symptoms can include night sweats, hot flushes and interrupted sleep.

'Irritable bowel syndrome' is the full name of IBS, a condition of unknown cause (at the time of writing) which causes bloating, bouts of diarrhoea, constipation and stomach cramps. It is debilitating and may be triggered by identifiable causes, such as certain food or drinks or just occur for no apparent reason.

An affliction of the lower part of the body, a UTI is a 'urinary tract infection', relating to the organs which deal with urine. These include the kidneys and bladder and common illnesses which involve this part of the body are cystitis and nephritis.

CBT is short for 'cognitive behavioural therapy', a technique developed to help with mental issues. The therapy helps people suffering with mental illnesses to change their thoughts and responses to situations. It is used for many mental conditions including depression, anxiety and eating disorders.

The final medical term listed is EEG, meaning 'electroencephalogram'. This is a test of electrical activity in the brain, mostly used for diagnosing and monitoring epilepsy. Electrodes are attached to the scalp to measure the activity in the brain.

The non medical abbreviations are GOP, meaning 'grand old party' and referring to the Republican Party in the USA, while WMD stands for 'weapons of mass destruction', normally referring to nuclear weaponry. RAC is short for the 'Royal Automobile Club', a motoring breakdown service in the UK, and NCO stands for 'non-commissioned officer', a rank group in the army. Finally, ISS is the abbreviation for the 'International Space Station', a jointly owned space station orbiting Earth.