Researchers are hell-bent on using the potential of AI for disease diagnosis. An imaging system developed by researchers at the Middle Technical University (MTU) and the University of South Australia (UniSA) in Australia can diagnose conditions such as diabetes, stroke, anemia, asthma, liver and gallbladder issues, COVID-19, and other vascular and gastrointestinal diseases, reports Times of India.
Understanding The Working
The AI algorithm examines key features of the tongue, including color, coating, shape, and texture. For instance, a yellow tongue might indicate diabetes, while a purple tongue with a thick coating could be a sign of cancer. By analyzing these visual cues, the system can provide potential diagnoses.
In a study published in the journal Technologies, the researchers reported a diagnostic accuracy rate of 96.6% when testing the system on images of both healthy individuals and patients. This groundbreaking technology has the potential to revolutionize healthcare by offering a quick, non-invasive, and cost-effective method for disease screening.
“Typically, people with diabetes have a yellow tongue; cancer patients a purple tongue with a thick greasy coating; and acute stroke patients present with an unusually shaped red tongue,” senior study author Ali Al-Naji, who teaches at Middle Technical University in Baghdad and the University of South Australia said.
Replicating Traditional Technique
- Diabetes: Yellow coating (sometimes blue with yellow)
- Cancer: Purple tongue with thick, greasy coating
- Stroke: Unusually shaped red tongue
- Anemia: White tongue
- Liver and gallbladder issues: Yellow tongue
- Vascular or gastrointestinal issues: Indigo or violet tongue
- COVID-19: Tongue color ranging from faint pink to deep red, depending on severity
It’s important to note that while this AI system shows promise, it should not replace traditional medical diagnosis. It is intended as a screening tool to help identify potential health issues that require further evaluation by healthcare professionals.
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Source: Times of India
