Respiratory disorders in the child can be diagnosed with a smartphone

According to a study published in the open access journal, cough badysis technology incorporated into a smartphone app could help diagnose childhood respiratory disorders. Respiratory research.

Researchers from Curtin University and the University of Queensland, Australia, have shown that a smartphone app could diagnose asthma, croup, pneumonia, heart disease, and other diseases. lower respiratory tract and bronchiolitis with high precision (between 81% and 97%).

Dr. Paul Porter, corresponding author of the study, said: "It may be difficult to differentiate respiratory disorders in children, even for experienced physicians.This study shows how new technologies, mathematical concepts, Machine learning and clinical medicine can be successfully combined to produce new diagnostic tests that draw on the expertise of several disciplines. "

To develop the application, the authors used a technology similar to that used in speech recognition, which they trained to recognize the characteristic cough characteristics of five different respiratory diseases. The researchers then used the application to clbadify the cough of 585 children aged 29 days to 12 years who were being cared for in two hospitals in Western Australia. The accuracy of the automated cough badyzer was determined by comparing its diagnosis to a diagnosis made by a group of pediatricians after reviewing the imaging results, laboratory results, hospital records. and conducted all available clinical investigations.

The authors note that the technology developed for this study makes it possible to make a diagnosis without having to be examined by a physician, which limits one of the main disadvantages of existing telehealth consultations used to provide remote clinical services. . By eliminating the need for a clinical examination, targeted treatments can begin earlier.

Dr. Porter said, "Since the tool is not based on clinical investigations, it can be used by health care providers of all levels of training and skills." However, we suggest that the tool be used as much as possible in conjunction with a clinician to maximize clinical accuracy. "