Improving diagnosis

Each year, over 50,000 children in NSW are taken to emergency departments by their carers because they have a fever. Diagnosis of the cause of the fever is difficult, and is not an exact science in the first instance, but can be vital in saving a child's life.

Researchers and clinicians from The Children's Hospital at Westmead and Sydney University are developing a system that will ultimately reduce the inaccuracies in early diagnosis, improving health care for our children. The team have been awarded a NHMRC program grant, one of only three awarded in NSW, to develop and trial the model which could have long term implications across the world.

Currently, a child in emergency with a fever will undergo a number of "tests" to assist the doctor in diagnosis. This starts with the relatively simple questions like does the child have a cough, a runny nose, any loss of appetite? - the normal questions that we have all been asked by our own GP. Following on from this, the doctor begins to make some initial assessments and is likely to instigate a number of other different tests such as blood tests and urine tests.

These tests will present the doctor with a number of results. These results combined with other information that the doctor has received from the carer and patient form the basis of the initial diagnosis. The doctor processes the information on the basis of clinical knowledge and past experience, resulting in the initial diagnosis and from there, the treatment plan.

This is no foolproof system. The tests themselves are not always accurate. When speed is so important there is a margin of error. The interpretation of these tests relies on so many different factors and gaps in information that again, the accuracy of the result can not be guaranteed.

Of course, tests have been taken that will allow accurate diagnosis in 24 - 48 hours but immediate diagnosis and treatment is vital for so many conditions, meningitis being just one of them.

The model that is now being developed, and will be tested over the next five years is expected to improve diagnosis in emergency departments throughout the world. Test results will no longer be interpreted solely by the doctor. The results will be fed into a computer algorithm, which will come back with the likelihood of specific diseases based on the test results.

"This is a very exciting program with the potential to have profound long term effects. Early, accurate diagnosis of so many illnesses is the difference between life and death. The pressure on the doctor is quite extraordinary. This program will reduce the margin for error and assist in providing the likelihood of specific illnesses," said Dr Jonathan Craig.

The test model will be trialed alongside standard care to ascertain its effectiveness and potential for expansion.

For further information, please contact:

Gilly Paxton
Manager
Public Relations
Ph: (02) 9845 0000