Title: A Rule-Based Headache Triage Expert System Built with SL5 Object, Following the FamilyDoctor.org Symptom Checker
Authors: Mohammad Fares, Samy S. Abu-Naser
Volume: 10
Issue: 7
Pages: 10-20
Publication Date: 2026/07/28
Abstract:
Headache is a very common health problem, and the same headache can have many different causes, from a simple tension headache to something serious like a stroke. In this paper I built a small expert system that asks the user some yes/no questions and then tells them the most likely cause of their headache. I took the questions and their order from the FamilyDoctor.org symptom checker for the symptom "Headaches" (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2025). The system was built using SL5 Object, which is a forward-chaining rule-based expert system language. The system has eight yes/no questions that lead to eight results: stomach virus, meningitis, concussion, stroke, tension headache, migraine, vision problems, and low blood sugar. Two of them (meningitis and stroke) are emergencies, so the system stops early and gives a warning. Each result has a certainty factor and a short advice. I tested all the paths in the tree and the system gave the same result as the symptom checker every time. This system is an educational prototype and is not a replacement for a real doctor.