Freedman et al developed a modified Vesikari Score (MVS) for evaluating acute gastroenteritis in young children. The authors are from the University of Toronto, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Children’s Research Institute in Milwaukee.
Patient selection: children 3 to 48 months old with acute gastroenteritis
Parameters:
(1) duration of diarrhea in days
(2) maximum number of diarrheal stools in a 24 hour period
(3) vomiting duration in days
(4) maximum number of vomiting episodes in a 24 hour period
(5) maximum rectal temperature in °C
(6) type of healthcare provider visit
(7) therapy
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
duration of diarrhea |
0 days |
0 |
|
|
1 to 4 days |
1 |
|
|
5 days |
2 |
|
|
>= 6 days |
3 |
|
maximum number of stools |
0 |
0 |
|
|
1 to 3 |
1 |
|
|
4 or 5 |
2 |
|
|
>= 6 |
3 |
|
vomiting duration |
0 days |
0 |
|
|
1 day |
1 |
|
|
2 days |
2 |
|
|
>= 3 days |
3 |
|
maximum number of vomiting episodes |
none |
0 |
|
|
1 episode per 24 hours |
1 |
|
|
2 to 4 episodes per 24 hours |
2 |
|
|
>= 5 episodes per 24 hours |
3 |
|
maximum rectal temperature |
<= 37°C |
0 |
|
|
37.1 to 38.4°C |
1 |
|
|
38.5 to 38.9°C |
2 |
|
|
>= 39°C |
3 |
|
type of healthcare provider visits |
none |
0 |
|
|
outpatient |
2 |
|
|
emergency department (ED) |
3 |
|
therapy |
none |
0 |
|
|
outpatient rehydration |
1 |
|
|
hospitalization |
2 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 7 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 20
• The higher the score the more severe the gastroenteritis.
|
Total Score |
Severity of Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) |
|
0 to 8 |
mild |
|
9 or 10 |
moderate |
|
11 to 20 |
severe |
Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Surgery, general, Gastroenterology
