Galant et al developed a clinical score for evaluating a child with status asthmaticus. This can be used in conjunction with pulsus paradoxicus to identify a child with severe disease. The authors are from the University of California at Irvine.
Parameters:
(1) wheezing
(2) retractions
(3) air exchange
(4) anxiety
Parameter
Finding
Points
wheezing
none
0
mild
1
marked
2
retractions
none
0
mild
1
marked
2
air exchange
good
0
fair
1
poor, minimal
2
anxiety
none
0
mild
1
marked
2
total clinical score =
= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 8
• The higher the score the more severe the asthma.
• The presence of pulsus paradoxicus > 20 mm Hg indicates moderate to severe disease with significant hypercarbia.
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