Scientists are developing a mobile application that will analyze cough sounds to help diagnose COVID-19. A team at the Embedded Systems Laboratory of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne is focused on enabling users to record their coughs, which the app will then analyze to determine if the novel coronavirus may be responsible for their symptoms.
The Importance of Cough Analysis
According to the World Health Organization, a dry cough is present in about two-thirds of COVID-19 cases, which notably differs from the wet cough associated with colds or allergies. To create this app, researchers are amassing a vast collection of cough recordings from individuals. This is not a novel approach; cough sounds have previously been utilized to diagnose conditions such as whooping cough, pneumonia, and asthma. Research assistant Noah Greene explains that the app will employ learning algorithms to analyze the sound frequencies within a cough.
How to Contribute
While the application is still in development and not yet available, individuals who think they might have contracted COVID-19 can upload their cough sounds on the project’s website. This data will be invaluable for training the app’s algorithms. Users can remain anonymous but are encouraged to provide their location, which aids researchers in mapping outbreak areas.
Limitations of the App
Greene cautions that, similar to nasal swab tests that can yield false negatives, the cough sound analysis won’t be infallible. “It won’t be 100% accurate because around a third of patients are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t exhibit cough symptoms,” he notes. “The app could serve as an initial screening tool to help ease concerns for those at home worrying about their health.”
Data Collection and Quality
At present, the priority for Greene’s team is to collect as many cough recordings as possible. The varying environments and devices used by participants could affect the quality of the data, but accumulating a diverse dataset is crucial for refining the app’s capabilities. “We need a lot of recordings to help our algorithms differentiate among cough types, despite potential background noise,” he explains.
Looking Ahead
As we all await effective treatments and vaccines, advancements in diagnostic tools that can swiftly identify COVID-19 cases are certainly welcome news. For more insights, check out this other blog post on Home Insemination Kit that dives into various fertility topics. Additionally, for a thorough exploration of artificial insemination, visit Make a Mom. For a complete overview of intrauterine insemination, NHS is an excellent resource.
Conclusion
In summary, researchers are working to create a cough-analysis app aimed at diagnosing COVID-19, gathering recordings from users to enhance its accuracy. Though not perfect, this tool could provide preliminary insights for those concerned about their symptoms.
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