Diagnosing COVID-19 From Chest CT Scan Images Using Deep Learning Models

Introduction

A global pandemic has been resulting from the virus, which was detected in November 2019. This virus shares genetic similarities with the SARS virus, which was discovered in 2002. This virus was created in bats and then transmitted to humans through them (Jahangir et al., 2020). This virus can spread via the air through water droplets released by affected people while sneezing, speaking, or coughing, and can be active for up to three hours (Alpaydin et al., 2021). The virus is also capable of surviving on the surfaces of objects for a very long time (Bhardwaj et al., 2021). is more common in people over 60, children under the age of 12, asthmatic patients, people with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women. The earliest signs of are a high temperature, exhaustion, low breath, cough, loss of aroma and flavor. Later on, this progresses to serious lung damage, which is referred to as acute respiratory distress syndrome in medical terms (ARDS). After five days of infection, a person develops symptoms. The incubation period is five days, and during this time, a affected individual becomes a moving source of infection (Jain et al., 2021). At the moment, one individual affected with is infecting another 2.2 people. A doctor can utilize the RT-PCR test to confirm the condition. This method can also identify a trace amount of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA). At the initial stage, however, this test fails to identify the virus (Tahamtan & Ardebili, 2020). A clinician can diagnose lung disease resulting from infection utilizing chest CT (Computed Tomography) scans. Other approaches for detecting include serological testing. This approach looks for antibodies produced by the immune system to attack the virus to determine the presence of the 19 virus (Lee et al., 2020). The sensitivity of the RT-PCR test was between 30 and 70% at the start of the pandemic. The sensitivity of the second generation RT-PCR test has increased to 95%, making it more accurate than a chest x-ray. However, the RT-PCR test still has issues with waiting times, test costs, and the lack of testing facilities worldwide.