de Ita et al reported the CAF score for evaluating a pediatric patient with an atypical pneumonia. This can help to guide antibiotic therapy. The authors are from Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud del Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico.
Parameters of the CAF score:
(1) cough duration (C)
(2) age in years (A)
(3) fever duration (F)
Parameter
Finding
Points
cough
< 1 day
0
1 to 3 days
1
3.1 to 5 days
2
5.1 to 7 days
3
7.1 to 14 days
4
> 14 days
5
age
< 0.5 years
0
0.5 to 2 years
1
2.1 to 4 years
2
4.1 to 7 years
3
7.1 to 10 years
4
> 10 years
5
fever
< 1 day
0
1 to 3 days
1
3.1 to 5 days
2
5.1 to 7 days
3
7.1 to 14 days
4
> 14 days
5
total score =
= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 15
• A score >= 5 is positive for Mycoplasma pneumonia.
Performance:
• The sensitivity was 85% and specificity 49%. The negative predictive value was 96%.
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