Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.bjhcim.co.uk/news/2010/n1004036.htm
Computer model diagnoses fever in young children better than clinicians
26 April 2010
A computerised diagnostic model outperforms clinical judgement for the diagnosis of fever in young children, and may improve early treatment, according to a study by Australian researchers [1].
Fever is a common symptom in children, especially in those under five years of age, but it can be difficult to diagnose the correct cause. Yet physicians need to be able to distinguish minor viral illnesses from serious bacterial infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infection and meningitis.
Current diagnostic processes and clinical scoring systems are often inadequate, so there is a need for an accurate acute clinical decision making tool that takes into account all the signs and symptoms associated with serious causes of febrile illness...
...They conclude: ?By combining routinely collected clinical information into a statistical model, we have demonstrated that a clinical diagnostic model may improve the care of children presenting with fever who have suspected serious bacterial illness.?
?This study reinforces the importance of measuring vital signs and assessing a child?s overall state of illness,? say general practitioners Matthew Thompson and Anne Van den Bruel in an accompanying editorial. But, they caution that, ?before widespread implementation, we will need to have evidence showing the effect of using such a model on patient management and outcomes.?
Reference
1. Craig JC et al. The accuracy of clinical symptoms and signs for the
diagnosis of serious bacterial infection in young febrile
children: prospective cohort study of 15,781 febrile illnesses. BMJ 2010;340:c1594. doi:10.1136/bmj.c1594
Computer model diagnoses fever in young children better than clinicians
26 April 2010
A computerised diagnostic model outperforms clinical judgement for the diagnosis of fever in young children, and may improve early treatment, according to a study by Australian researchers [1].
Fever is a common symptom in children, especially in those under five years of age, but it can be difficult to diagnose the correct cause. Yet physicians need to be able to distinguish minor viral illnesses from serious bacterial infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infection and meningitis.
Current diagnostic processes and clinical scoring systems are often inadequate, so there is a need for an accurate acute clinical decision making tool that takes into account all the signs and symptoms associated with serious causes of febrile illness...
...They conclude: ?By combining routinely collected clinical information into a statistical model, we have demonstrated that a clinical diagnostic model may improve the care of children presenting with fever who have suspected serious bacterial illness.?
?This study reinforces the importance of measuring vital signs and assessing a child?s overall state of illness,? say general practitioners Matthew Thompson and Anne Van den Bruel in an accompanying editorial. But, they caution that, ?before widespread implementation, we will need to have evidence showing the effect of using such a model on patient management and outcomes.?
Reference
1. Craig JC et al. The accuracy of clinical symptoms and signs for the
diagnosis of serious bacterial infection in young febrile
children: prospective cohort study of 15,781 febrile illnesses. BMJ 2010;340:c1594. doi:10.1136/bmj.c1594