Overview

• A new AI smartphone app developed by UPMC and University of Pittsburgh accurately diagnoses ear infections, aiming to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in children.
• The app assesses videos of the ear drum captured by an otoscope connected to a cellphone, providing a more accurate diagnosis than many trained clinicians.
• About 70% of children experience an ear infection before their first birthday, making accurate diagnosis crucial for appropriate treatment.
• The AI models demonstrated sensitivity and specificity values of over 93%, significantly higher than the diagnostic accuracy of human doctors.
• Researchers hope the tool will be widely adopted in healthcare settings to enhance accurate diagnosis and support treatment decisions.