Computer-assisted pediatric diagnosis.

A system for computer aid to diagnosis was tested on 90 children hospitalized with systemic illness and discharged with a final diagnosis. A medical secretary and a pediatrician were equally successful (78% vs 77%) in having the system list the main final diagnosis when each independently supplied a list of details extracted only from the pediatric intern's admission notes. Even when the final diagnosis was not considered by the pediatric house staff and attending physicians caring for the patient until after the day of admission, the system was accurate in listing the diagnosis (or in raising the correct line of diagnostic inquiry) in at least 85% of the patients.