s/sx is a shortened medical abbreviation for signs and symptoms. This abbreviation is commonly used in doctor's notes and medical records to save space and time when documenting a patient's condition. The first paragraph of a doctor's examination notes often contains a large amount of information, so using abbreviations like "s/sx" helps prioritize the most crucial details—the actual signs and symptoms experienced by the patient.
For example, instead of writing "The patient presented with numerous symptoms including headache, fever, and fatigue," a doctor might write "The patient presented with multiple s/sx including headache, fever, and fatigue."
- Signs: Objective and measurable observations made by a healthcare professional (e.g., rash, elevated temperature, abnormal heart sounds).
- Symptoms: Subjective experiences reported by the patient (e.g., pain, nausea, dizziness).
The use of "s/sx" improves efficiency in medical documentation without sacrificing clarity. It's a shorthand understood within the medical field.
