Design of Automated Medical Diagnostic Model

Abstract

The high virulence and fatality rate of Lassa fever is a major concern which is further complicated by the non-specific modes of presentation (mimicking some other fevers). This may be why early presentation and subsequent diagnosis is usually not feasible especially in the rural areas. The contagious nature of the illness poses a big threat to the medical attendants, other hospital workers and care-givers who often are exposed to this disease unprotected, prior to diagnosis and establishment of barrier nursing. This gives rise
to the need to develop a system that could aid in early and effective detection of the disease. This research uses the object-oriented methodology in its design and implementation of the system and offers a different model from the traditional software development approach that is based on functions and procedures. In simplified terms, object-oriented systems development is a way of developing software by building selfcontained modules or objects that can be easily replaced, modified and reused. The programming language used was Java. At the end, data were injected in the new system, tested and discovered to give conclusive results and inconclusive results based on the data entered. This research does not intend to eliminate human physicians but that this model for Lassa fever diagnosis should be used to complement the work of doctors or to be used in remote areas where medical specialists may not be readily accessible. This model simplifies diagnosis and is less prone to error than humans and provides a faster solution to problems, faster access to information and at higher accuracy. It gives tool sets that cannot be matched by human ability.