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MedlinePlus XML Files

MedlinePlus produces XML data sets that you are welcome to download and use. If you have questions about the MedlinePlus XML files, please contact us. For additional sources of MedlinePlus data in XML format, visit our Web service page, or see our XML data sources handout.

If you use data from MedlinePlus XML files or build an interface that utilizes the files, please indicate that the information is from MedlinePlus.gov. To receive notification when MedlinePlus releases enhancements to its XML files or updates the documentation, sign up for our XML file email updates:


Health Topics

MedlinePlus publishes three types of health topic XML files daily (Tuesday-Saturday):

  • MedlinePlus Health Topic XML
  • MedlinePlus Compressed Health Topic XML
  • MedlinePlus Health Topic Group XML

The six most recent files and their corresponding DTDs are linked at the bottom of this section.

The MedlinePlus health topic XML files contain records for all English and Spanish health topics. Each health topic record includes data elements associated with that topic. This associated data includes:

  • basic metadata (health topic title, URL, language, date created, and ID),
  • vocabulary (MeSH, "Also called" terms, and see references),
  • full summary,
  • group membership,
  • related health topics,
  • equivalent English or Spanish topics,
  • related content in other languages,
  • primary NIH institute, and
  • all site records (links) assigned to a health topic page, including their names, URLs, organizations, category assignments, and standard descriptions.

These XML files allow you to download and use virtually all text and links that appear on MedlinePlus health topic pages. For complete details on all elements and attributes in the MedlinePlus health topic XML, see the MedlinePlus XML file description.

The MedlinePlus Compressed Health Topic XML contains the same information as the MedlinePlus Health Topic XML, but it is posted as a .zip file for easier downloading.

The MedlinePlus health topic group XML files contain information on all English and Spanish topic groups.

Files generated on October 06, 2012

MedlinePlus Health Topic XML  (24108 K) (DTD, 5 K)
MedlinePlus Compressed Health Topic XML  (3605 K)
MedlinePlus Health Topic Group XML  (12 K) (DTD, 3 K)

Files generated on October 05, 2012

MedlinePlus Health Topic XML  (24105 K) (DTD, 5 K)
MedlinePlus Compressed Health Topic XML  (3605 K)
MedlinePlus Health Topic Group XML  (12 K) (DTD, 3 K)

Files generated on October 04, 2012

MedlinePlus Health Topic XML  (24094 K) (DTD, 5 K)
MedlinePlus Compressed Health Topic XML  (3604 K)
MedlinePlus Health Topic Group XML  (12 K) (DTD, 3 K)

Files generated on October 03, 2012

MedlinePlus Health Topic XML  (24089 K) (DTD, 5 K)
MedlinePlus Compressed Health Topic XML  (3603 K)
MedlinePlus Health Topic Group XML  (12 K) (DTD, 3 K)

Files generated on October 02, 2012

MedlinePlus Health Topic XML  (24085 K) (DTD, 5 K)
MedlinePlus Compressed Health Topic XML  (3603 K)
MedlinePlus Health Topic Group XML  (12 K) (DTD, 3 K)

Files generated on September 29, 2012

MedlinePlus Health Topic XML  (21876 K) (DTD, 5 K)
MedlinePlus Compressed Health Topic XML  (2838 K)
MedlinePlus Health Topic Group XML  (12 K) (DTD, 3 K)

Health Services Vocabulary

This file contains information on all of the Local Service Terms used for the Go Local Web site. The file contains

  • service terms
  • definitions and see references
  • service types for each service term

The National Library of Medicine ceased maintaining this file as of March 31, 2010. This file is for reference only.

Complete Local Service Terms Vocabulary (117 K) (DTD, 4K)