Artificial Intelligence and Imaging Techniques to Help Detect Meningitis

Acute bacterial meningitis has been a source of concern for over many years. Meningitis is a neurological illness that is caused by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and may lead to neurological disabilities and even death. It shows a few common symptoms such as fever, stiff neck, and headache. Thus, it is very important that healthcare professionals perform a diagnostic test to confirm the disease and it’s because of it. Meningitis can be caused due to bacterial or viral infection. If it is bacterial meningitis, the patients may have to deal with chronic pain. In this case, meningitis bacteria enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain, which can lead to several health issues such as deafness, learning disability, and brain damage. On the other hand, viral meningitis is less severe compared to bacterial meningitis but it has no defined set of treatments. Thus, imaging helps to understand the progress of meningitis and whether it has affected bones, blood, tissues, and other vital organs.

Rise in prevalence of meningitis disease, advancements in meningitis imaging market technology, and surge in use of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) drive the market growth.

For diagnostic purposes, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method is used. The process involves the use of strong magnets and radio waves to create a picture of the body. MRI provides a comprehensive image of the progression of the disease compared to traditional CT scans. In addition, MRI can detect inflammation in the brain or spinal cord and warn about the possibility of a tumor, eye disease, or any other underlying diseases.

Over the last few years, MRI technology has advanced a lot. Moreover, there are no tests to confirm the cause of meningitis within 24 hours. However, the case of bacterial meningitis can be deadly, and thus, there is a dire need for faster diagnostic tests. There are some rapid tests to confirm the disease but they lack reliability and are quite costly. Thus, even today, the diagnosis of meningitis depends on imaging techniques and the expertise of a healthcare professional.

Having said that, AI technology has developed rapidly and has proven effective in diagnosis. Several teams of researchers have attempted to harness the power of AI and machine learning (ML) in the differential diagnosis of meningitis. With the colossal data collected by patient health records, it is possible for AI and ML algorithms to find patterns and notify doctors about early signs of bacterial meningitis. However, the technology to use AI in the detection of meningitis is still in its infancy and needs a lot of research and clinical trials. It offers a unique opportunity to detect chronic illnesses such as meningitis as early as possible and offer the patient a fighting chance.

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