ABSTRACT

The growing rate of information technology suggests that computer is needed in all aspects of human existence. This fact has left experts and professionals in all spheres of human life with a singular quest of trying to ascertain how best to make their field easier and more efficient by integrating computer into their systems and processes. Hence development of an expert system to diagnose HIV and prescribe antiretroviral drugs is just an end result of the ability of the computer to assist the doctor in doing his work by analysis of existing symptoms. Chapter one introduces the concept of expert system with special reference to medicine and in particular HIV diagnosis. The background of case study, scope, limitation, statement of problems and objectives of study are carefully enumerated. Chapter two deals with literature review of concepts of expert system, role of computers in medicine, medical expert systems and throws light on HEV and antiretroviral drugs. Chapter three specifies techniques and methodology used in the accomplishment of this project, analysis of the existing system, proposes the new system and provides a comparative analysis of the old and new systems. Chapter four deals with design and specification of new system, methods of implementation and maintenance of the system. The research work comes to an end with chapter five dealing with conclusions and recommendations. Embedded in this work are references and appendices, which include input and output forms, program flowchart and system implementation codes.