Sx Medical Abbreviation: What It Means in Healthcare

What Does Sx Mean in Medical Terms?

Sx is a medical abbreviation for “symptoms.” 

Healthcare providers use it to describe the signs or problems that patients report, such as pain, fever, dizziness, or nausea. Unlike a diagnosis (Dx), which names a condition, Sx only refers to what the patient is experiencing.

Where You’ll Commonly See Sx

You might come across “Sx” in:

• Doctor’s progress notes
• Patient intake forms
• Electronic health records (EHR)
• Lab or imaging request forms
• Discharge summaries

For example, a note might read: “Pt reports Sx of chest pain and shortness of breath.”

Sx in Patient Care

Using “Sx” helps medical teams communicate quickly about a patient’s condition. It plays a role in:

• Identifying possible diagnoses - symptoms guide what conditions to test for.
• Tracking changes - noting whether Sx are improving, worsening, or stable.
• Documenting patient perspective - Sx reflect what the patient feels, which may not always match objective findings.

A study found that doctors often record fewer symptoms than patients report. For example, joint pain and headaches were documented much less often by clinicians than patients described.

What If No Sx Are Present?

If a patient has no symptoms, a provider may write “No Sx” or “Asymptomatic.” This is common in routine screenings, or in conditions like high blood pressure that often develop without obvious symptoms.

Sx vs Other Common Abbreviations

Here’s how Sx fits alongside other frequently used abbreviations:

• Dx - Diagnosis: the identified condition causing the symptoms.
• Hx - History: the patient’s past medical background.
• Tx - Treatment: the plan to address the condition.
• Rx - Prescription: medications given to the patient.

Each abbreviation marks a different stage of care, but Sx is the starting point, since symptoms are often what bring a patient to seek medical help.