Table 1.
Algorithm used for the diagnoses of cause of death, in Meskan and Mareko district, Ethiopia. 2000.
| Algorithm | Diagnosis |
| Duration of illness < 30 days + Accidents (intentional or unintentional) | Injuries |
| Female sex + (Pregnant or In labor or in the puerperal period) | Maternal causes |
| Duration of illness > 30 days + Cough + Weight loss + (Bloody sputum or Fever or Ascites) + no diarrhea | Tuberculosis |
| Duration of illness > 30 days + Cough + Diarrhea + Fever + Weight loss | AIDS |
| Duration of illness > 15 days + (Edema of legs or Ascites) + Jaundice | Liver diseases |
| Duration of illness < 15 days + Abdominal swelling + Repeated vomiting + No diarrhea | Acute abdomen |
| Duration of illness > 30 days + cough + Dyspnea + Wheezing + No bloody sputum | Chronic obstructive lung diseases |
| Duration of illness < 30 days + Diarrhea + No cough | Diarrheal diseases |
| Duration of illness < 15 days + Fever + Headache | Acute febrile illness |
| Duration of illness < 15 days + Fever + Headache + Neck stiffness | Meningitis |
| Duration of illness < 30 days + Cough + Fever + (Dyspnea or Chest pain) | Pneumonia |
| Duration of illness < 30 days + Dyspnea + Palpitation + (Edema of legs or Ascites) | Cardio Vascular diseases |