THE POTENTIAL FOR COMPUTER-AIDED DIAGNOSIS OF TROPICAL DISEASES IN DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES - AN EXPERT SYSTEM CASE-STUDY

In industrialised countries, although extensive research into medical diagnosis expert systems over the past two decades proved initially promising, few expert systems are in routine use. In the context of developing countries, a different environment exists in which computer-aided diagnosis could have a substantial impact. Better resource allocation and management is required to alleviate the problems imposed on health systems by financial and personnel constraints. This paper proposes the development and implementation of ESTROPID, an Expert system on TROPIcal Diseases, to assist paramedical staff during training and in clinical practice. This forms part of a project designed to investigate the potential of various health information systems. The current ESTROPID prototype is evaluated and suggestions for future developments are given. The authors remain optimistic about the eventual realisation of this project.