Health Topic XML File Description: MedlinePlus

Definitions of every possible tag in the file, with examples and their use on MedlinePlus.

1. <health-topics>

The "root" element, or the base tag that all other tags/elements fall under. <health-topics> contains two attributes:

• total - the total number of MedlinePlus topics in the XML file
• date-generated - the date the file was generated in the format mm/dd/yyyy hh24:mi:ss
  Example: <health-topics total="1800" dategenerated="04/02/2012 12:10:06">
  
  
2. <health-topic>

Each MedlinePlus topic represented by the file has its own <health-topic> element. This topic title is the value of the element. The attributes for this element include:

• id - the unique internal identification number assigned to each topic by the MedlinePlus system
• date-created - The date the health topic was first available on the MedlinePlus site. There is one date-created per <health-topic>.
  Example: date-created="01/07/2003"
  Use on MedlinePlus: Not used for the public site.
• language - the language of this topic. This can be either English or Spanish.
• meta-desc - a short description (200 characters maximum) summarizing the page content
  Example: meta-desc="If you are being tested for Type 2 diabetes, your doctor gives you an A1C test. The test is also used to monitor your A1C levels."
  Use on MedlinePlus: Provides a description of the page for social sharing and external search engines.
• url - the topic URL. The URL for the corresponding health topic page on MedlinePlus.
  Example: url="https://medlineplus.gov/abdominalpain.html"
  Use on MedlinePlus: This is the URL link for every reference to this health topic on the alphabetical list of topics, topic groups page, the related topics shown on the left sidebar of topic pages and other pages. Example: <health-topic title="Abdominal Pain" url="https://medlineplus.gov/abdominalpain.html" id="3061" language="English" date-created="01/07/2003">.
  
  
3. Tags under <health-topic>
1. <also-called>

Synonyms associated with the topic. It is not required. Some topics have no synonyms, while others may have multiple synonyms.
Example: <also-called>Gestational diabetes</also-called>
Use on MedlinePlus: These words or phrases are listed on the "Also called:" line appearing just beneath the health topic name on health topic pages.

2. <language-mapped-topic>

For English topics, this is the equivalent Spanish health topic, For Spanish topics, this is the equivalent English health topic.
There is one or none <language-mapped-topic> per <health-topic>.
Example: <language-mapped-topic url="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/abdominalpain.html" id="3062" language="Spanish">Dolor abdominal</language-mapped-topic>
Attribute id use on MedlinePlus: Not used for the public site.

3. <full-summary>

Full text of the health topic summary. There is one <full-summary> per <health-topic>.
Example: <full-summary><p>Parkinson's disease is a disorder that affects nerve cells, or neurons, in a part of the brain that controls muscle movement. In Parkinson's, neurons that make a chemical called dopamine die or do not work properly. Dopamine normally sends signals that help coordinate your movements. No one knows what damages these cells. Symptoms of Parkinson's disease may include</p> <ul> <li>Trembling of hands, arms, legs, jaw and face </li> <li>Stiffness of the arms, legs and trunk </li> <li>Slowness of movement </li> <li>Poor balance and coordination </li> </ul> <p>As symptoms get worse, people with the disease may have trouble walking, talking or doing simple tasks. They may also have problems such as depression, sleep problems or trouble chewing, swallowing or speaking. </p> <p>Parkinson's usually begins around age 60, but it can start earlier. It is more common in men than in women. There is no cure for Parkinson's disease. A variety of medicines sometimes help symptoms dramatically. </p></ full-summary>
Use on MedlinePlus: The topic summary appears at the top of the health topic page, beneath the title. Hyperlinks to other MedlinePlus topic pages may appear in topic summaries.

4. <group>

   Health topic group(s) of which the <health-topic> belongs to. A <health-topic> must have at least one group; it may have multiple groups.
   Example: <group url="https://medlineplus.gov/digestivesystem.html" id="2">Digestive System</group>
   For each group to which the <health-topic> belongs, the group name will be provided as <group> tag value, Example: "Digestive System". Additional information will be provided on 2 attributes:

   • id - Unique identification number for the health topic group.
     Example: id="2"
     Use on MedlinePlus: Not used for the public site.
   • url - URL of the health topic group page.
     Example: url="https://medlineplus.gov/digestivesystem.html" .
     Use on MedlinePlus: This is the URL for the health topic group. It is used on the health topics page landing page, where a complete listing of groups is found, and hyperlinked from the "Related Topics" box on health topic pages.
     
     
5. <see-reference>

See references associated with the <health-topic>. Not every topic has an associated see reference. There may be more than one see reference.
Example: <see-reference>Bellyache</see-reference>
Use on MedlinePlus: Used on alphabetical list of topics to guide user to a health topic page; e.g., on the "Health Topics: S" page, "Shaking Palsy see Parkinson's Disease" appears as a see reference.

6. <mesh-heading>

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) associated with the topic. There may be more than one <mesh-heading> associated with a <health-topic>.
Example:
<mesh-heading>
<descriptor id="D015746">Abdominal Pain</descriptor>
</mesh-heading>

The <mesh-heading> tag has <descriptor> element and id attribute:

• <descriptor> - Refers to the Medical Subject Heading associated with the <health-topic>.
  Example: <descriptor id="D015746">Abdominal Pain</descriptor>
  Use on MedlinePlus: Used for linking to other databases. Not used for the public site.
• id - Unique identification number for the Medical Subject Heading.
  Example: id="D015746"
  Use on MedlinePlus: Used for linking to other databases. Not used for the public site.
  
  
7. <related-topic>

The related health topics associated with this <health-topic>. Not every topic has an associated <related-topic>. There may be more than one <related-topic>.
Example: <related-topic url="https://medlineplus.gov/pain.html" id="351">Pain</related-topic>
The related topic title is the value of <related-topic>. The <related-topic> has id and url attributes.
Use on MedlinePlus: The id is not used, but the name of the related topic and url is used in the "Related Topics" box on MedlinePlus health topic pages.

• id - Unique internal identification number assigned to each health topic by the MedlinePlus system.
• url - Related topic URL.
  
  
8. <other-language>

The other-language associated with the <health-topic>. Not every topic has an associated other-language. There may be more than one other-language.
Example: <other-language vernacular-name="繁體中文" url="https://medlineplus.gov/languages/acne.html#Chinese - Traditional">Chinese - Traditional</other-language>
The other-language element value contains the language name in English. The <other-language> tag has vernacular-name and url attributes.

• vernacular-name - Language name in the vernacular. 
  Example: vernacular-name="繁體中文"
• url - URL to the Multiple Language topic page with the jump link to the appropriate language.
  Example: url=https://medlineplus.gov/languages/acne.html#Chinese-Traditional.
  
  
9. <primary-institute>

Health topic pages on MedlinePlus may have a primary National Institutes of Health institute assigned to them. It is not required.
Example: <primary-institute url="http://www.niaid.nih.gov/">National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases</primary-institute>.
The primary-institute element value contains the primary institute name.
The <primary-institute> has url attribute. Example: url="http://www.niaid.nih.gov/".

10. <site>

For every MedlinePlus health topic, there will be at least one site record.
Example: <site title="National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases" url="http://www.niaid.nih.gov/Pages/default.aspx">
<information-category>Organizations</information-category>
<organization>National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases</organization>
<standard-description>NIH</standard-description>
</site>

The attributes for this element include:

• url - The URL of the site record.
• title - The site name of the site record.
• language-mapped-url - URL of the mapped Spanish site for English sites or URL of the mapped English site for Spanish sites. There may be no language-mapped-url associated with a site record.



The <site> element may contain the following elements:

• <standard-description> - Descriptive information about the site record. Site records may have multiple standard description assigned.
• <organization> - The organization or agency that produced the information. Site records may have multiple organizations assigned, and some may have no organizations.
• <information-category> Refers to the groupings of links that appear on MedlinePlus health topic pages. Site records may have multiple information categories assigned.
  
  

A record for a MedlinePlus health topic containing most of the tags listed above.

- <health-topic title="Acoustic Neuroma" url="https://medlineplus.gov/acousticneuroma.html" id="1624" language="English" date-created="04/22/2002">
  <also-called>Acoustic neurilemmoma</also-called>
  <also-called>Acoustic neurinoma</also-called>
  <also-called>Auditory tumor</also-called>
  <also-called>Vestibular schwannoma</also-called>
  <full-summary><p>An acoustic neuroma is a <a href='https://medlineplus.gov/benigntumors.html'>benign tumor</a> that develops on the nerve that connects the ear to the brain. The tumor usually grows slowly. As it grows, it presses against the hearing and balance nerves. At first, you may have no symptoms or mild symptoms. They can include</p> <ul> <li> Loss of hearing on one side </li> <li> Ringing in ears</li> <li> Dizziness and balance problems</li> </ul> <p>The tumor can also eventually cause numbness or paralysis of the face. If it grows large enough, it can press against the brain, becoming life-threatening.</p> <p>Acoustic neuroma can be difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms are similar to those of middle ear problems. Ear exams, hearing tests, and scans can show if you have it.</p> <p>If the tumor stays small, you may only need to have it checked regularly. If you do need treatment, surgery and radiation are options.</p> <p>If the tumors affect both hearing nerves, it is often because of a genetic disorder called <a href='https://medlineplus.gov/neurofibromatosis.html'>neurofibromatosis</a>.</p> <p >NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders</p></full-summary>
  <group url="https://medlineplus.gov/brainandnerves.html" id="14">Brain and Nerves</group>
  <group url="https://medlineplus.gov/earnoseandthroat.html" id="16">Ear, Nose and Throat</group>
  <language-mapped-topic url="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/acousticneuroma.html" id="2251" language="Spanish">Neuroma acústico</language-mapped-topic>
- <mesh-heading>
  <descriptor id="D009464">Neuroma, Acoustic</descriptor>
  </mesh-heading>
  <other-language vernacular-name="español" url="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/acousticneuroma.html">Spanish</other-language>
  <primary-institute url="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/">National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders</primary-institute>
  <related-topic url="https://medlineplus.gov/neurofibromatosis.html" id="1387">Neurofibromatosis</related-topic>
  <see-reference>Auditory Tumor</see-reference>
  <see-reference>Neuroma, Acoustic</see-reference>
  <see-reference>Vestibular Schwannoma</see-reference>
- <site title="Acoustic Neuroma" url="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acoustic-neuroma/basics/definition/CON-20023851?p=1">
  <information-category>Start Here</information-category>
  <organization>Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Acoustic neuroma" url="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000778.htm" language-mapped-url="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000778.htm">
  <information-category>Patient Handouts</information-category>
  <information-category>Encyclopedia</information-category>
  </site>
- <site title="Acoustic Neuroma" url="http://www.irsa.org/acoustic_neuroma.html">
  <information-category>Treatments and Therapies</information-category>
  <organization>International Radiosurgery Support Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Acoustic Neuroma Educational Video" url="https://www.anausa.org/overview/educational-video">
  <information-category>Videos and Tutorials</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  <standard-description>Video</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="Acoustic Neuroma Keywords" url="https://www.anausa.org/overview/acoustic-neuroma-keywords-2/Glossary-1/">
  <information-category>Reference Desk</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Acoustic Neuroma: Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor" url="http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/doctor/acousticNeuroma.shtml">
  <information-category>Diagnosis and Tests</information-category>
  <organization>Harvard Medical School</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Centers of Excellence in Radiosurgery" url="http://www.irsa.org/CentersOfExcellence/CentersofExcellenceMenu.html">
  <information-category>Find an Expert</information-category>
  <organization>International Radiosurgery Support Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="ClinicalTrials.gov: Neuroma, Acoustic" url="http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Neuroma,+Acoustic%22">
  <information-category>Clinical Trials</information-category>
  <organization>National Institutes of Health</organization>
  <standard-description>NIH</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="Computed Tomography (CT) -- Head" url="http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headct" language-mapped-url="http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headct">
  <information-category>Diagnosis and Tests</information-category>
  <organization>American College of Radiology</organization>
  <organization>Radiological Society of North America</organization>
  <standard-description>Video</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="Cranial CT scan" url="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003786.htm" language-mapped-url="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/003786.htm">
  <information-category>Patient Handouts</information-category>
  <information-category>Encyclopedia</information-category>
  </site>
- <site title="Directory of Organizations (Deafness and Communication Disorders)" url="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/directory/">
  <information-category>Find an Expert</information-category>
  <organization>National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders</organization>
  <standard-description>NIH</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="Gamma-Knife Radiosurgery" url="http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/gamma-knife-radiosurgery/basics/definition/PRC-20014760?p=1">
  <information-category>Treatments and Therapies</information-category>
  <organization>Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Head MRI" url="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003791.htm" language-mapped-url="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/003791.htm">
  <information-category>Patient Handouts</information-category>
  <information-category>Encyclopedia</information-category>
  </site>
- <site title="Identifying the Acoustic Neuroma" url="https://www.anausa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=116&Itemid=114">
  <information-category>Diagnosis and Tests</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) -- Head" url="http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headmr" language-mapped-url="http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headmr">
  <information-category>Diagnosis and Tests</information-category>
  <organization>American College of Radiology</organization>
  <organization>Radiological Society of North America</organization>
  <standard-description>Video</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders" url="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/">
  <information-category>Find an Expert</information-category>
  <organization>National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders</organization>
  <standard-description>NIH</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="NIDCD Glossary" url="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/glossary/Pages/glossary.aspx">
  <information-category>Reference Desk</information-category>
  <organization>National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders</organization>
  <standard-description>NIH</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="Post Treatment of Acoustic Neuroma" url="https://www.anausa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=119&Itemid=117">
  <information-category>Treatments and Therapies</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Acoustic Neuroma" url="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=neuroma,acoustic[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])+AND+%22last+1+Year%22[edat]">
  <information-category>Journal Articles</information-category>
  </site>
- <site title="Selecting a Medical Professional" url="https://www.anausa.org/resources/medical-resources/selecting-a-medical-professional">
  <information-category>Treatments and Therapies</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Stereotactic radiosurgery - discharge" url="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000131.htm" language-mapped-url="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/patientinstructions/000131.htm">
  <information-category>Patient Handouts</information-category>
  <information-category>Encyclopedia</information-category>
  </site>
- <site title="Stereotactic Radiosurgery - Gamma Knife" url="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007577.htm" language-mapped-url="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/007577.htm">
  <information-category>Patient Handouts</information-category>
  <information-category>Encyclopedia</information-category>
  </site>
- <site title="Symptoms of Acoustic Neuroma" url="https://www.anausa.org/overview/symptoms">
  <information-category>Symptoms</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Ten Ways to Recognize Hearing Loss" url="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/pages/10ways.aspx" language-mapped-url="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/spanish/pages/10w_sp.aspx">
  <information-category>Health Check Tools</information-category>
  <organization>National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders</organization>
  <standard-description>NIH</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="Treatment Options Summary" url="https://www.anausa.org/pretreatment/treatment-options-summary">
  <information-category>Treatments and Therapies</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Types of Post-Treatment Issues" url="https://www.anausa.org/post-treatments/types-post-treatment-issues">
  <information-category>Related Issues</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  </site>
- <site title="Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma) and Neurofibromatosis" url="http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/Pages/acoustic_neuroma.aspx">
  <information-category>Start Here</information-category>
  <organization>National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders</organization>
  <standard-description>NIH</standard-description>
  </site>
- <site title="What Is an Acoustic Neuroma" url="https://www.anausa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=114&Itemid=112">
  <information-category>Start Here</information-category>
  <organization>Acoustic Neuroma Association</organization>
  </site>
  </health-topic>