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Comment by empath75 | Hacker News Reader

Also sort of pointless since most ear infections don’t need treatment.

Not pointless at all. If you can track it easily at home and only visit the doctor when it becomes an issue that's a win for everyone.

Also, the app could support an educational component: "You should see your doctor because diagnosis and testing may be more involved based on the evaluation of a trained professional. Some ear infections may surgery, while others may not even require antibiotics. See your doctor."

Most people who find out their kid has an ear infection will take them to the doctor and demand antibiotics. Even if it’s viral.

Tell me more about this viral ear infection.

Absolutely not. Kids age < 4 get these all the time. When they cry or feel bad, you don't know if you want to go to doctor all the time. For poor people this is even more difficult decision. Ear infections when treated early can be much less painful or even dangerous. This kind of apps is definitely useful.

> For poor people this is even more difficult decision.

Depends where you live. In The Netherlands I get the doctor visits for my toddler reimbursed by (mandatory) insurance. My problem is rather that I need to make (precious) time for a doctor visit. Time is money.

I am not a medical professional, so I may be getting some details wrong, but my understanding is that many pediatricians over-prescribe antibiotics for ear-infections (sometimes due to demands of the parents), and having additional information may help in this regard.

Over-prescribing antibiotics is bad because (1) some children have serious allergic reactions to them (and sometimes these develop over time), (2) they contribute to the evolution of antibiotic resistance.

I am nearly deaf thanks to unattended childhood ear infections. You could not be more wrong.

It would have had to have been unattended for a very long time.

Current guidance is to wait a couple days to see if it clears up, and only if it doesn't after several days then see a doctor.

You would not have hearing damage after just several days.

The context is that someone claimed it's pointless to even diagnose them. An undiagnosed problem isn't going to be following that guidance.

It's not necessary to diagnose it until several days have passed.

That's not to say just ignore the earache, but you don't have to go to the doctor to get a diagnosed for couple days. Only if it's still there after a couple days then go.

Here (Slovenia) you get told off severely if you don't come immediately when the pain starts. And if there's no pain but you feel a fluid buildup, you're supposed to get checked regularly until it subsides (am currently in that state, non-infected fluid buildup in my ear after a viral infection).

Does your doctors have incentives for regular checkups?

Even if they don't need treatment, it's useful to know why your child is screaming/complaining.

Making the diagnosis of any medical condition easier necessarily can't be pointless

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