Conway and Littlewood developed a clinical score for evaluating a child with asthma. The authors are from St. James's University Hospital at Leeds.
Parameters:
(1) wheezing (or rhonchi)
(2) use of accessory muscles
(3) heart rate in beats per minute
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
wheezing |
none |
0 |
|
|
only during expiration |
1 |
|
|
during inspiration and expiration |
2 |
|
|
audible without a stethoscope |
3 |
|
use of accessory muscles |
none |
0 |
|
|
a little |
1 |
|
|
moderate |
2 |
|
|
marked |
3 |
|
heart rate |
<= 80 |
0 |
|
|
81 to 110 |
1 |
|
|
111 to 140 |
2 |
|
|
> 140 |
3 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 9
• The higher the score the more severe the episode.
Performance:
• Bishop et al found the score imprecise but a reasonable quantitative measure of severity for an acute episode of asthma.
• One modification would be for nonlinear point assignment.
Specialty: Pulmonology
