Clark et al developed a simple clinical score for an infant with acute gastroenteritis. The authors are from the the Wistar Institute and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia..
Patient selection: infant with acute gastroenteritis
Parameters:
(1) number of stools per day (diarrhea, loose or watery)
(2) duration of diarrhea in days
(3) number of episodes of emesis per day (vomiting)
(4) duration of vomiting in days
(5) rectal temperature in °C (fever)
(6) duration of fever in days
(7) behavioral symptoms (worst)
(8) duration of behavioral symptoms in days
|
Parameter |
Findings |
Points |
|
number of stools per day |
0 to 1 per day |
0 |
|
|
2 to 4 per day |
1 |
|
|
5 to 7 per day |
2 |
|
|
> 7 per day |
3 |
|
duration of diarrhea |
< 1 day |
0 |
|
|
1 to 4 days |
1 |
|
|
5 to 7 days |
2 |
|
|
> 7 days |
3 |
|
episodes of emesis per day |
0 |
0 |
|
|
1 to 3 per day |
1 |
|
|
4 to 6 per day |
2 |
|
|
> 6 per day |
3 |
|
duration of vomiting |
< 2 days |
0 |
|
|
2 days |
1 |
|
|
3 to 5 days |
2 |
|
|
> 5 days |
3 |
|
rectal temperature |
< 38.1°C |
0 |
|
|
38.1 to 38.2°C |
1 |
|
|
38.3 to 38.7°C |
2 |
|
|
>= 38.8°C |
3 |
|
days with fever |
< 1 day |
0 |
|
|
1 or 2 days |
1 |
|
|
3 or 4 days |
2 |
|
|
>= 5 days |
3 |
|
behavioral symptoms |
none |
0 |
|
|
irritable or less playful |
1 |
|
|
lethargic or listless |
2 |
|
|
seizure |
3 |
|
duration of behavioral symptoms |
< 1 day |
0 |
|
|
1 or 2 days |
1 |
|
|
3 or 4 days |
2 |
|
|
>= 5 days |
3 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 8 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 24
• The higher the score the more severe the gastroenteritis.
|
Total Score |
Severity |
|
<= 8 |
mild |
|
9 to 16 |
moderate |
|
>= 17 |
severe |
Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Surgery, general, Gastroenterology
