IT major Wipro, cancer specialist HCG working on covid cough recorder app

Bengaluru: Research teams from IT major Wipro and cancer care specialists HCG have partnered to study cough patterns of covid-19. They’re working on an app that can distinguish the covid cough from other types of cough caused by seasonal bronchitis and pneumonia.

Cough patterns in respiratory illnesses show variations and have been used earlier to diagnose illnesses. Since the SARS-CoV2 virus, which causes covid-19, targets the respiratory system, cough patterns from infected individuals could be distinct is the reasoning of the researchers.

“Cough is a common symptom in covid-19. We believe specific features to covid-19 cough could be used to identify cases. Successful identification and preventive measures could help us contain the spread with early detection,” said Dr Anand Subash, head and neck oncologist, who is leading research for the AI Cough Recorder project.