New AI Tool Revolutionizes Ear Infection Diagnosis in Children

Developed by UPMC and University of Pittsburgh researchers, the AI-powered smartphone app offers over 93% accuracy, outperforming many clinicians.

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.