If your child gets an ear infection, that all but guarantees a visit to the doctor is in your near future. But now, thanks to new technology developed by researchers at Emory University, you may be able to avoid that trip.
Remotoscope, a clip-on attachment and app for iPhones, enables parents to check their children’s ears for possible infection. The app takes a picture or video of the eardrum and sends it to a doctor for review. The tool could potentially save both families and healthcare providers money.
According to the Emory researchers, 75 percent of children are affected by ear infections by age 6, and account for 15 million doctor visits a year. Ear infections are also the common cause for what may be unnecessary prescriptions for antibiotics. Doctors could determine the differences between bacterial and viral infections if they were able to see in-ear images over the course of several days.
Studies are currently underway to determine if the diagnostic capabilities of Remotoscope match that of the otoscope, the traditional device doctors use to check ears.
The device is not yet on the market, but researchers hope to commercialize it.
