Model of Meltzer et al for Identifying a Child with a Low Risk of Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Description

Meltzer et al identified a number of clinical factors which can help to evaluate a child with conjunctivitis. A child with a low risk for bacterial conjunctivitis may not require aggressive antibiotic therapy. The authors are from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

Parameters:

(1) age of the patient

(2) month of the year

(3) type of ocular discharge

(4) gluing of the eyelids in the morning

Parameter	Finding	Points
age in years	< 6 years of age	0
	>= 6 years of age	1
month of the year	December to March	0
	April to November	1
type of ocular discharge	none	1
	watery	1
	thick and/or purulent	0
gluing of the eyelids	present	0
	absent	1

total score =

= SUM(points for all 4 parameters)

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 4

• The higher the score the more likely cultures will be negative for bacteria.

Total Score	Positive Bacterial Cultures
3	24%
4	8%
all patients in study	65%

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Model of Meltzer et al for Identifying a Child with a Low Risk of Bacterial Conjunctivitis

Description

Specialty