Table 2.
Strength of connections among concepts and the numerical weights produced by applying FL
| Edge | Feedback from Experts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Start concept |
End concept |
Type of impact |
Fuzzy sets |
Expert 1 |
Expert 2 |
Expert 3 |
Expert 4 |
Defuzzified value |
| Male Sex |
Meningitis |
Positive |
W,M,S |
M |
M |
M |
M |
0.5 |
| Cellulitis ∖infective focus |
Meningitis |
Positive |
W,M,S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
0.808 |
| Immuno-compromised child |
Meningitis |
Positive |
W,M,S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
0.808 |
| Splenectomy |
Meningitis |
Positive |
W,M,S |
M |
S |
S |
S |
0.73 |
| Bulging fontanel |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
VS |
VS |
VS |
VS |
0.887 |
| Brudzinski’s sign |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
VS |
S |
VS |
VS |
0.81 |
| Fever |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
S |
S |
M |
M |
0.562 |
| Vomiting |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
S |
S |
M |
M |
0.562 |
| Black race |
Meningitis |
Positive |
W,M,S |
M |
S |
S |
M |
0.658 |
| Irritability |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
VS |
S |
S |
S |
0.711 |
| High economic ∖hygienic status |
Meningitis |
Negative |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
W |
W |
W |
W |
-0.225 |
| Hib ∖Pneumococcal vaccine |
Meningitis |
Negative |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
W |
W |
W |
W |
-0.155 |
| Good nutritional status |
Meningitis |
Negative |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
VW |
W |
W |
VW |
-0.196 |
| Kernig sign |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
VS |
VS |
VS |
VS |
0.887 |
| CSF study abnormal |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
VS |
VS |
VS |
VS |
0.887 |
| Head trauma |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
S |
S |
W |
S |
0.61 |
| Photophobia |
Meningitis |
Positive |
W, M,S |
S |
S |
S |
M |
0.73 |
| Stiff neck |
Meningitis |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
S |
VS |
VS |
VS |
0.81 |
| Seizures |
Meningitis |
Positive |
W,M,S |
S |
S |
S |
S |
0.808 |
| Immuno-compromised child |
Cellulitis ∖infective focus |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
VS |
VS |
VS |
VS |
0.887 |
| High economic ∖Hygienic status |
Hib ∖Pneumo- coccal vaccine |
Positive |
VW,W, M,S,VS |
VS |
VS |
S |
VS |
0.81 |
| High economic ∖hygienic status | Good nutritional status | Positive | VW,W, M,S,VS | VS | VS | VS | S | 0.81 |