Acoustic epidemiology
Study of disease distribution through analysis of bodily sounds.
Last updated
Acoustic epidemiology is the study of the determinants and distribution of disease through the analysis of sounds produced by the body, such as coughs, sneezes, and wheezing. It uses a single tool or a combination of diagnostic tools to improve disease surveillance capabilities, particularly for respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.
Quick Facts
- Field
- Epidemiology
- Known for
- Analysis of bodily sounds (coughs, sneezes, wheezing) for disease surveillance
- Method
- Acoustic data collection via smartphone apps and syndromic surveillance
- Related disease
- COVID-19
Facts from the source article.
Background
Acoustic epidemiology builds on earlier epidemiological efforts, such as John Snow's 1800s work linking cholera to contaminated water, which led to sewage drainage and water purification systems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, genomic epidemiologists used whole genomes to study the disease, and the CDC posted a 'COVID-19 Genomic Epidemiology Toolkit' to expand the field within state and local populations. Acoustic epidemiology follows these traditions by using body sound data to improve disease surveillance for COVID-19 and future diseases.
More in Epidemiology
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Acoustic epidemiology (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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