Medical Abbreviations Starting With "H"

This page lists 259 medical abbreviations starting with "H", each with its full form and a plain-English meaning. Where one abbreviation has more than one common meaning, each meaning has its own row — context in the chart is what tells them apart. Terms flagged ⚠ Error-prone are on recognised error-prone lists and should be written out in full. Use the filter box to narrow this list, the search on the main guide to search all 5,715 entries, or jump to another letter:

A B C D E F G I J K L M N 0–9 O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
H&P	history and physical	Written record of history and physical examination	General Medical
H. pylori	Helicobacter pylori	Stomach bacterium linked to ulcers	Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
H. pylori Ag	Helicobacter pylori stool antigen	Stool test for stomach H. pylori infection	Laboratory Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
h.s.	hora somni (at bedtime)	Latin for at bedtime — an error-prone abbreviation	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing
H2RA	histamine-2 receptor antagonist	Medicine reducing stomach acid	Prescription & Medication Orders Gastroenterology
HA	headache	Pain in the head	General Medical Neurology
HA-MRSA	healthcare-associated MRSA	MRSA strain linked to healthcare settings	Infectious Disease
HAART	highly active antiretroviral therapy	Combination medicines suppressing HIV	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
habituation	habituation exercises (vestibular)	Repeated movements reducing vertigo sensitivity	Neurology
HAEC	Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis	Dangerous bowel infection in Hirschsprung disease	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
HAGMA	high anion gap metabolic acidosis	Acid build-up acidosis type	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
HAI	healthcare-associated infection	Infection acquired during medical care	General Medical Infectious Disease Nursing
halo traction	halo traction (skull)	Ring-based skull pulling for spine alignment	Musculoskeletal Surgery
halo vest	halo vest (device)	Skull-ring neck immobilizer	Musculoskeletal Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
Ham test	acid hemolysis test (historical PNH test)	Older test for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HAM-A	Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale	Clinician-rated anxiety scale	Psychiatry
HAM-D	Hamilton Depression Rating Scale	Clinician-rated depression scale	Psychiatry
hammer toe	hammer toe correction	Straightening a bent toe	Surgery Musculoskeletal
hand-foot-mouth	hand-foot-and-mouth disease (diagnosis)	Coxsackie mouth and limb rash — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
handoff	handoff (shift report)	Transfer of care information between clinicians	Nursing General Medical
HAP	hospital-acquired pneumonia	Lung infection developing during a hospital stay	Respiratory Infectious Disease
HAPI	hospital-acquired pressure injury	Pressure sore developing during hospital care	Nursing
HAS-BLED	HAS-BLED score	Bleeding risk score in atrial fibrillation, from its factor initials	Cardiology
haustra	haustra (colon anatomy)	Pouch-like folds of the colon	Gastroenterology
HAV	hepatitis A virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type A	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
Hb	hemoglobin	Protein in red cells that carries oxygen	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HbA1c	glycated hemoglobin	Blood test showing average sugar over about three months	Laboratory Endocrinology
HBeAg	hepatitis B e antigen	Marker of high hepatitis B infectivity	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HBIG	hepatitis B immune globulin	Antibody injection given after hepatitis B exposure	Infectious Disease
HBoV	human bocavirus	Respiratory virus found in children	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Laboratory
HBsAg	hepatitis B surface antigen	Marker found in blood during hepatitis B infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
HBV	hepatitis B virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type B	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HBV DNA	hepatitis B virus DNA	Viral level guiding hepatitis B treatment	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HC	head circumference	Measurement around the largest part of the head	Pediatrics Vitals & Assessment
HC fetal	head circumference (fetal ultrasound)	Fetal head size measurement	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
HC/AC	head-to-abdominal circumference ratio	Ratio identifying asymmetric growth problems	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
HCAHPS	Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems	National patient experience survey	Nursing General Medical
HCAI	healthcare-associated infection	Infection acquired during medical care	Infectious Disease Nursing
HCAP	healthcare-associated pneumonia	Older term for pneumonia linked to healthcare exposure	Respiratory Infectious Disease
HCC	hepatocellular carcinoma	Primary cancer arising in liver cells	Gastroenterology Hematology & Oncology
hCG	human chorionic gonadotropin	Pregnancy hormone measured in blood or urine	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology
HCM	hypertrophic cardiomyopathy	Thickened heart muscle that can obstruct blood flow	Cardiology
HCO3	bicarbonate	Main base in blood, part of acid-base balance	Laboratory Respiratory
HCoV	human coronavirus	Coronavirus family infecting humans	Infectious Disease Laboratory
HCP	health care proxy	Person appointed to make medical decisions	Nursing General Medical
HCQ	hydroxychloroquine	Medicine used for malaria and autoimmune conditions	Prescription & Medication Orders Musculoskeletal
Hct	hematocrit	Percentage of blood made up of red cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HCTZ	hydrochlorothiazide	Water tablet medicine increasing urine production	Prescription & Medication Orders Cardiology Renal & Nephrology
HCV	hepatitis C virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, type C	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HCV RNA	hepatitis C virus RNA	Viral level confirming active hepatitis C	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HD	hemodialysis	Machine filtering of blood to remove waste and water	Renal & Nephrology
HD	hoarding disorder	Persistent difficulty discarding possessions, causing clutter	Psychiatry
HD	Huntington disease	Inherited brain disease causing movement, thinking and mood changes	Neurology Psychiatry
HD cath	hemodialysis catheter placement	Large vein catheter for dialysis	Surgery Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care
HD initiation	hemodialysis initiation (decision)	Starting dialysis — decision	Renal & Nephrology
HDF	hemodiafiltration	Dialysis combining diffusion and filtration	Renal & Nephrology
HDFN	hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn	Antibody attack on fetal red cells	Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology Pediatrics
HDL	high-density lipoprotein	The 'good' cholesterol that carries cholesterol away	Cardiology Laboratory
HDN	hemolytic disease of the newborn (diagnosis)	Blood-group attack on baby cells — diagnosis	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
HDR	high dose rate (brachytherapy)	Internal radiation given quickly at high dose	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging
HDU	high dependency unit	Unit for patients needing more care than a ward	Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
HDV	hepatitis D virus	Virus causing liver inflammation only in people with hepatitis B	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HE	hepatic encephalopathy	Brain dysfunction caused by liver failure	Gastroenterology Neurology
HE4	human epididymis protein 4	Ovarian cancer tumor marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
head bobbing	head bobbing (distress sign)	Neck muscle breathing sign in babies	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
head circumference	occipitofrontal circumference (measurement)	Head size measurement — measurement	Pediatrics Neurology Nursing
head covering sleep	head covering (sleep hazard)	Covered face during sleep hazard	Pediatrics Nursing
head impulse	head impulse test (vestibular)	Quick head turn testing the balance reflex	Neurology
head lag	head lag (development sign)	Head flopping back when pulled to sit	Pediatrics Neurology
hearing loss child	senso rineural hearing loss (childhood)	Inner ear hearing loss of childhood	Pediatrics Neurology
hearing screening	hearing screening (newborn/child)	Hearing checks across childhood	Pediatrics Nursing
HEART	HEART score	Score estimating heart risk in chest pain patients	Emergency & Critical Care Cardiology
HEART pathway	HEART Pathway	Structured early discharge chest-pain pathway	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
HEART score	HEART score (chest pain)	Emergency chest pain risk score	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care Vitals & Assessment
heel WB	heel weight bearing	Load through the heel only after foot surgery	Musculoskeletal Surgery Nursing
HEENT	head, eyes, ears, nose and throat	Combined examination of these areas	General Medical
heliox	heliox (asthma/airway)	Helium-oxygen easing airway work	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
HELLP	HELLP syndrome (diagnosis)	Severe preeclampsia complication — diagnosis	Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
HELLP	hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelet count	Serious pregnancy complication affecting blood, liver and platelets	Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology
helmet	helmet use (injury prevention)	Protective headgear guidance	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
Hematemesis	haematemesis	Vomiting blood	Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care
Hematochezia	haematochezia	Passing fresh red blood from the back passage	Gastroenterology
Hematoma	haematoma	Collection of blood outside vessels after injury or surgery	Surgery
Hemiarth	hemiarthroplasty	Operation replacing half of a joint, often the hip	Musculoskeletal Surgery
hemiarthroplasty hip	hip hemiarthroplasty (procedure)	Replacing only the ball of the hip joint	Surgery Musculoskeletal
hemiplegic migraine	hemiplegic migraine (type)	Migraine with temporary one-sided weakness	Neurology
hemispherotomy	hemispherotomy (epilepsy surgery)	Disconnecting a brain hemisphere for severe epilepsy	Surgery Neurology Pediatrics
hemo access	hemostasis (access post-dialysis)	Pressure stopping needle-site bleeding after dialysis	Renal & Nephrology Nursing
hemodialyzer	hemodialyzer (filter)	Blood filter for hemodialysis	Renal & Nephrology
HEMORR2HAGES	HEMORR2HAGES score	Older bleeding risk score in atrial fibrillation	Cardiology
hemorrhagic transformation	hemorrhagic transformation (stroke complication)	Bleeding into a stroke area	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
HepA	hepatitis A vaccine	Vaccine against hepatitis A	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
hepatic enceph	hepatic encephalopathy (psych presentation)	Confusion from liver failure presenting psychiatrically	Psychiatry Gastroenterology Neurology
hepatoblastoma	hepatoblastoma (diagnosis)	Liver tumor of toddlers	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Hematology & Oncology
HepB	hepatitis B vaccine	Vaccine against hepatitis B	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
HER2	human epidermal growth factor receptor 2	Protein guiding targeted cancer treatment choices	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
hernia PD	PD-related hernia (complication)	Belly wall hernia from PD pressure	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
herniation types	herniation syndromes (uncal/subfalcine/tonsillar)	Brain shift emergency types	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
herpangina	herpangina (diagnosis)	Painful back-of-mouth blisters — diagnosis	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
herpetic whitlow	herpetic whitlow (finger)	Herpes infection of a finger	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Surgery
hesitancy	vaccine hesitancy (term)	Delay or refusal despite vaccine availability	Pediatrics Infectious Disease General Medical
heterophile Ab	heterophile antibody	Antibody detected by the monospot test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
heterotaxy	heterotaxy (organ arrangement)	Abnormal left-right organ patterning	Pediatrics Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
HEV	hepatitis E virus	Virus causing liver inflammation, spread mainly through contaminated water	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HF	heart failure	Condition where the heart does not pump well enough	Cardiology
HF dialysis	high-flux dialysis (membrane)	Large-pore membrane dialysis	Renal & Nephrology
HFE	hemochromatosis gene	Gene linked to iron overload when faulty	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
HFJV	high-frequency jet ventilation	Pulsed jet ventilation for babies	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
HFmrEF	heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction	Heart failure with a slightly low pumping fraction	Cardiology
HFNC	high-flow nasal cannula	Heated, high-flow oxygen given through nasal prongs	Respiratory
HFOV	high-frequency oscillatory ventilation	Ventilator mode using very rapid tiny breaths	Respiratory
HFOV adult	high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (adult)	Tiny rapid breath ventilation — adult use	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
HFpEF	heart failure with preserved ejection fraction	Heart failure where the pumping fraction stays normal but filling is stiff	Cardiology
HFrEF	heart failure with reduced ejection fraction	Heart failure where the pumping fraction is low	Cardiology
Hgb	hemoglobin	Protein in red cells that carries oxygen	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HH	hand hygiene	Cleaning hands to prevent infection spread	Infectious Disease Nursing
HHHFNC	heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula	Full name of high-flow oxygen therapy	Pediatrics Respiratory
HHS	hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state	Severe high blood sugar without major ketones	Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care
HHV-6	human herpesvirus 6 (roseola)	Roseola virus	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Laboratory
HI	homicidal ideation	Thoughts about harming or killing another person	Psychiatry
Hib	Haemophilus influenzae type b	Bacterium that can cause serious infections in young children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
Hib	Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine	Childhood vaccine against a bacterial infection	Infectious Disease Pediatrics
Hickman	Hickman catheter (tunneled line)	Larger tunneled central line	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Nursing
HIDA	hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan	Nuclear scan of gallbladder and bile flow	Radiology & Imaging Gastroenterology
HiDAC	high-dose cytarabine	Intensive cytarabine treatment for leukemia	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
HIE	hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy	Brain injury in a newborn from lack of oxygen and blood flow	Pediatrics Neurology
high fiber diet	high-fiber diet	Fiber-enriched diet order	Nursing Gastroenterology
high pro diet	high-protein diet	Protein-enriched diet order	Nursing
high-alert med	high-alert medication	Drug with heightened harm risk if misused	Nursing Prescription & Medication Orders
hilum	hilum (anatomy)	Root of the lung where vessels enter	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
hindmilk	hindmilk (later feed milk)	Fat-richer milk later in a feed	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing Pediatrics
HINTS	Head Impulse Nystagmus Test of Skew	Bedside exam distinguishing central from peripheral vertigo	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
HINTS exam	HINTS examination (head impulse nystagmus test of skew)	Bedside vertigo examination distinguishing stroke	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
hip click	hip click (examination finding)	Clicking sound on baby hip examination	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
hip clunk	hip clunk (dislocation finding)	Felt shift of a dislocating hip	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
hip scope	hip arthroscopy (procedure)	Keyhole hip joint surgery	Surgery Musculoskeletal
hip surveillance	hip surveillance (CP program)	Scheduled hip X-rays in cerebral palsy	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
HIPAA	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act	United States law protecting health information privacy	General Medical
hippocampus	hippocampus (anatomy)	Curved memory structure in the temporal lobe	Neurology
Hirschsprung	Hirschsprung disease (diagnosis)	Missing bowel nerves causing blockage — diagnosis	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery
Histo Ag	Histoplasma antigen	Urine or blood test for histoplasmosis	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
HIT	heparin-induced thrombocytopenia	Immune reaction to heparin causing low platelets and clots	Hematology & Oncology
HIT-6	Headache Impact Test	Six-question headache impact score	Neurology
HIV	human immunodeficiency virus	Virus that attacks the immune system	Laboratory Infectious Disease
HIV VL	HIV viral load	Amount of HIV RNA guiding treatment response	Laboratory Infectious Disease
HKAFO	hip-knee-ankle-foot orthosis	Full leg and hip brace	Musculoskeletal Neurology
HL	hearing loss	Reduced ability to hear sounds	General Medical
HL	Hodgkin lymphoma	Lymphatic cancer marked by Reed-Sternberg cells	Hematology & Oncology
HLA	human leukocyte antigen	Tissue markers matched for transplantation	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HLH	hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (diagnosis)	Overactive immune syndrome — diagnosis	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
HLHS	hypoplastic left heart syndrome	Birth defect where the left heart is severely underdeveloped	Cardiology Pediatrics
HM	hand motion	Vision level detecting only hand movement	General Medical Vitals & Assessment
HM	human milk (term)	Breast milk — term	Pediatrics Nursing
HMB	heavy menstrual bleeding	Excessively heavy periods	Obstetrics & Gynecology
HME trach	heat moisture exchanger (trach)	Filter warming air for trach patients	Nursing Respiratory
HMO	health maintenance organization	Health plan requiring use of network providers	General Medical
hMPV	human metapneumovirus	Respiratory virus similar to RSV	Infectious Disease Respiratory Laboratory
HNP	herniated nucleus pulposus	A spinal disc bulging out through its outer layer	Musculoskeletal Neurology
HNPCC	hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer	Inherited condition raising colon cancer risk, also called Lynch syndrome	Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
hoarding	hoarding disorder (diagnosis)	Persistent discarding difficulty disorder	Psychiatry
HOB	head of bed	Raised upper part of a hospital bed	Nursing
HOB 30	head of bed thirty degrees	Semi-upright position reducing aspiration and lung infection risk	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
HOCM	hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy	Thickened heart muscle that blocks blood leaving the heart	Cardiology
Hoffmann	Hoffmann sign (reflex)	Finger flick reflex suggesting upper motor disease	Neurology
hold med	hold medication (order)	Instruction to temporarily not give a drug	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing
Holder pasteurization	Holder pasteurization (milk banking)	Standard donor milk heat treatment	Pediatrics
HoLEP	holmium laser enucleation of the prostate	Laser operation removing prostate tissue through the urethra	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
holoTC	holotranscobalamin	Active vitamin B12 fraction	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Holter	Holter monitor (device)	Continuous day-long heart rhythm recorder	Cardiology
home meds	home medications (list)	Medicines the patient takes at home	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing
homocystinuria	homocystinuria (metabolic)	Connective and clotting metabolic disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory
honey-thick	honey-thick liquids	Thickened fluid consistency for safe swallowing	Nursing Neurology
HOOS	Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score	Hip function questionnaire	Musculoskeletal
Horners	Horner syndrome (sign group)	Small pupil, droopy lid and dry face on one side	Neurology
hot water heater	water heater temperature (scald prevention)	Setting heaters to 120 degrees guidance	Pediatrics Nursing
hour-specific	hour-specific bilirubin nomogram	Age-in-hours bilirubin risk chart	Pediatrics Laboratory
HP	hypersensitivity pneumonitis	Lung inflammation from an allergic reaction to inhaled particles	Respiratory
HPA	human platelet antigen	Platelet typing system used in platelet refractoriness and NAIT	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Pediatrics
HPD	histrionic personality disorder	Attention-seeking emotional pattern	Psychiatry
HPeV	human parechovirus	Virus causing sepsis-like illness in young infants	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Laboratory
HPI	history of present illness	Story of the current problem from start to visit	General Medical
HPS	hepatopulmonary syndrome	Lung vessel widening causing low oxygen in liver disease	Gastroenterology Respiratory
HPS	hypertrophic pyloric stenosis	Thickening of the stomach outlet muscle in young infants	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery
HPV	human papillomavirus	Virus causing warts and linked to cancers	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
HPV HR	high-risk human papillomavirus	Cancer-associated HPV types in screening	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology
HR	hazard ratio	Measure comparing event rates over time between groups	General Medical
HR	heart rate	Number of heartbeats per minute	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
HRCT	high-resolution computed tomography	Detailed CT scan used especially for lung tissue disease	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
HRS	hepatorenal syndrome	Kidney failure occurring in advanced liver disease	Renal & Nephrology Gastroenterology
HRT	hormone replacement therapy	Hormones replacing those lost at menopause	Prescription & Medication Orders Obstetrics & Gynecology Endocrinology
HRZE	isoniazid rifampicin pyrazinamide ethambutol	WHO-style shorthand for the four-drug TB regimen	Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
HS ⚠ Error-prone	at bedtime	At the hour of sleep, from Latin hora somni	Prescription & Medication Orders
hs-CRP	high-sensitivity C-reactive protein	Very sensitive inflammation test used for heart risk	Laboratory Cardiology
HSAT	home sleep apnea test	Home recording test for sleep apnoea	Respiratory
HScore	HScore (HLH probability)	HLH likelihood score	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
HSCT	hematopoietic stem cell transplant	Transplant of blood-forming stem cells	Hematology & Oncology
HSG	hysterosalpingography	X-ray test using dye to check the uterus and fallopian tubes	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
HSG procedure	hysterosalpingogram (procedure)	Dye test of the womb and tubes — procedure	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
HSIL	high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion	More advanced precancerous cell changes, often on cervical screening	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
HSP	Henoch-Schonlein purpura	Childhood inflammation of small blood vessels, now also called IgA vasculitis	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology
HSP	Henoch-Schönlein purpura (IgA vasculitis)	Childhood small-vessel vasculitis	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology
HSV	herpes simplex virus	Virus causing cold sores and genital herpes	Infectious Disease
HSV esophagitis	herpes simplex virus esophagitis	Herpes infection of the esophagus in weakened immunity	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
HSV PCR	herpes simplex virus PCR	Swab or fluid test for herpes infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
HSV workup neonate	neonatal HSV evaluation (workup)	Testing a sick newborn for herpes	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
HSV-1	herpes simplex virus type 1	Herpesvirus most often causing cold sores around the mouth	Infectious Disease
HSV-2	herpes simplex virus type 2	Herpesvirus most often causing genital herpes	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
Ht	height	How tall a patient is	Vitals & Assessment
HT	hypertropia	Upward turning of an eye	General Medical Pediatrics
HTN	hypertension	High blood pressure	Cardiology
HTX	hemothorax	Blood collecting in the chest space around the lung	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
HU	Hounsfield unit	CT density measurement scale	Radiology & Imaging
Hu ab	anti-Hu antibody (paraneoplastic)	Paraneoplastic neurological antibody	Neurology Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
Huber	Huber needle (port access)	Non-coring needle for ports	Pediatrics Nursing Hematology & Oncology
humerus birth	birth-related humerus fracture ()	Arm bone break during delivery	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology Musculoskeletal
Hunter	Hunter syndrome (MPS II)	X-linked storage disease of boys	Pediatrics Laboratory
Huntington scale	UHDRS (Unified Huntington Disease Rating Scale)	Huntington disease assessment scale	Neurology
Hurler	Hurler syndrome (MPS I)	Severe mucopolysaccharide storage disease	Pediatrics Laboratory
HUS	hemolytic uremic syndrome	Condition damaging red cells, platelets and kidneys	Hematology & Oncology Renal & Nephrology Pediatrics
Hutchinson sign child	Hutchinson sign (abdominal neuroblastoma)	Tumor crossing the midline descriptor	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology
HVF	Humphrey visual field	Standard automated visual field test	General Medical
hVISA	heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus	Staph population partly resistant to vancomycin	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Hx	history	Past medical information about a patient	General Medical
HY stage	Hoehn and Yahr stage (numbered)	Parkinson stage number in charting	Neurology
HyCoSy	hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography	Ultrasound foam test of tube openness	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
hydrocelectomy	hydrocelectomy (procedure)	Repair of a fluid sac around the testicle	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
hydrocephalus acute	acute hydrocephalus (complication)	Rapid fluid build-up after bleeding	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
hydronephrosis	antenatal hydronephrosis (finding)	Kidney swelling found before birth — finding	Pediatrics Renal & Nephrology Radiology & Imaging Obstetrics & Gynecology
hydrops	hydrops fetalis (immune/nonimmune)	Severe fetal swelling from anemia or other causes	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
hydrothorax PD	PD hydrothorax (leak complication)	Dialysis fluid leaking into the chest	Renal & Nephrology Respiratory
Hyper-CVAD	hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide vincristine doxorubicin dexamethasone	Intensive ALL and lymphoma regimen	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
hyperactive ADHD	predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation (ADHD)	Activity-type ADHD pattern	Pediatrics Psychiatry
hyperactive delirium	hyperactive delirium (subtype)	Agitated delirium subtype	Neurology Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
hyperammonemia	hyperammonemia (emergency)	High ammonia poisoning the brain — emergency	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
HyperCa	hypercalcemia	High calcium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Endocrinology
hypercalcemia crisis	hypercalcemic crisis (emergency)	Dangerously high calcium emergency	Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
HyperK	hyperkalemia	High potassium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Emergency & Critical Care
hyperkalemia management	hyperkalemia management (ECG)	High potassium emergency care	Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology Cardiology
hyperopia	hyperopia (farsightedness)	Near focus effort	Pediatrics
hyperoxia test	hyperoxia test (newborn cyanosis)	Oxygen challenge distinguishing heart from lung causes	Pediatrics Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
Hyperpara	hyperparathyroidism	Overactive parathyroid glands raising calcium	Endocrinology
hyperPP	hyperkalemic periodic paralysis	High-potassium episodic weakness	Neurology
hypertonic saline	hypertonic saline (treatment)	Concentrated salt for brain swelling or very low sodium — treatment	Emergency & Critical Care Neurology Prescription & Medication Orders
hypertropia	hypertropia (vertical deviation)	Upward-turning eye	Pediatrics Neurology
hypnic	hypnic headache (alarm clock)	Headache waking from sleep in older adults	Neurology
Hypo	hypoglycemia	Low blood sugar episode	Endocrinology
hypoactive delirium	hypoactive delirium (subtype)	Quiet withdrawn delirium subtype	Neurology Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
HypoCa	hypocalcemia	Low calcium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Endocrinology
hypoglycemia neonate	neonatal hypoglycemia (screening)	Low sugar in newborns — screening	Pediatrics Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care
HypoK	hypokalemia	Low potassium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
HypoNa	hyponatremia	Low sodium level in the blood	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
hyponatremia correction	hyponatremia correction rate (safety)	Safe speed limit for raising low sodium	Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology Laboratory
Hypopara	hypoparathyroidism	Underactive parathyroid glands lowering calcium	Endocrinology
hypoPP	hypokalemic periodic paralysis	Low-potassium episodic weakness	Neurology
hypothalamus	hypothalamus (anatomy)	Brain control center for hormones and body functions	Neurology Endocrinology
hypothenar	hypothenar muscles (pinky group)	Pinky base muscle group	Musculoskeletal
hypsarrhythmia	hypsarrhythmia (EEG pattern)	Chaotic EEG pattern of infantile spasms	Neurology Pediatrics
hysteroscopy	hysteroscopy (procedure)	Scope inspection inside the womb — procedure	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
HZ	herpes zoster	Medical term for shingles	Infectious Disease Neurology

Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.

Medical Abbreviations Starting With "H"

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