Description

The Multicentre Study of Poisoning in Children (MSPC) Score can be used to grade the severity of childhood poisoning. This can provide an objective measure for comparing patients. It was developed in Europe and is based on the PhoneTOXscore.


Parameters:

(1) gastrointestinal system

(2) nervous system

(3) respiratory system

(4) circulatory system

(5) renal system

(6) hepatic system

(7) skin

(8) metabolic

(9) corrosive effect

 

Grades for each parameter:

(1) mild

(2) moderate

(3) severe

(4) very severe

 

Gastrointestinal System

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

nausea

 

 

 

non-induced vomiting and/or diarrhea <= 2

vomiting and/or diarrhea > 2

 

 

dysphagia

 

 

 

salivation

 

 

 

oral burning

 

 

 

 

persistent abdominal pain

 

 

 

Central Nervous System

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

headache

 

 

 

tiredness

 

 

 

vertigo

 

 

 

ataxia

 

 

 

anxiety/agitation

severe agitation

 

 

 

lethargy

 

 

 

somnolescence

 

 

 

coma responsive to pain

coma unresponsive to pain

coma with respiratory depression

 

hallucinosis

delirium

 

 

isolated seizure

repeated seizures

status epilepticus

 

extra-pyramidal reactions

severe dystonic reaction

 

 

 

 

cerebral edema

 

Peripheral  Nervous System

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

tremor

 

 

 

paresthesia

 

 

 

 

muscular twitching

 

 

 

mild autonomic disturbances (anticholinergic, cholinergic, adrenergic)

 

 

 

Respiratory System

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

irritative cough

 

 

 

mild cyanosis

cyanosis

 

 

 

bronchospasm

 

 

 

brief apnea

 

 

 

dyspnea

bradypnea

 

 

 

pulmonary edema

 

 

 

pneumonia

 

 

 

 

ARDS

 

 

 

respiratory insufficiency requiring ventilation

 

Circulatory System

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

mild tachycardia (75-95th percentile)

pronounced tachycardia (> 95th percentile)

 

 

 

bradycardia (< 5th percentile)

 

 

 

isolated extrasystole

serious arrhythmia (ventricular extrasystoles, wide QRS complexes)

ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, asystole

 

significant hypertension

severe hypertension

 

 

first degree AV block

second degree AV block

 

 

 

hypotension with clinical signs

circulatory failure with shock

 

where:

• Third degree block is not listed in the original table

 

Renal System

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

 

proteinuria 150-300 mg per 24 hours

proteinuria > 300 mg per 24 hours

 

 

microhematuria

macrohematuria

 

 

volume 0.5-1.0 mL per kg per hour

volume < 0.5 mL per kg per hour

anuria

 

serum creatinine 100-179 µmol/L

serum creatinine 180-910 µmol/L

serum creatinine > 910 µmol/L

 

creatinine clearance 51-80 mL/min per 1.73 square meters

creatinine clearance 10-50 mL/min per 1.73 square meters

creatinine clearance < 10 mL/min per 1.73 square meters

 

 

 

renal failure requiring dialysis

 

Hepatic System

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

 

ALT (SGPT) increased but < 300 U/L

ALT 300-3000 U/L

ALT > 3000 U/L

 

AST (SGOT) increased but < 300 U/L

AST 300-3000 U/L

AST > 3000 U/L

 

coagulation tests abnormal without clinical signs

coagulopathy with mild bleeding but no anemia

coagulopathy with severe bleeding and anemia

 

mildly elevated bilirubin

moderately elevated bilirubin

markedly elevated bilirubin

 

 

 

liver failure

 

 

 

hepatic encephalopathy

 

where:

• Mildly and markedly elevated bilirubin not listed in original table.

• The upper limit for the normal reference range of ALT and AST are not given.

 

Skin

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

pallor

 

 

 

redness

 

 

 

edema

 

 

 

ecchymosis

 

 

 

 

Metabolic Abnormality

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

metabolic acidosis with base excess to -5

metabolic acidosis with base excess -6 to -15

metabolic acidosis with base excess -16 to -25

metabolic acidosis with base excess more than -26

met-Hgb < 10%

met-Hgb 10-30%

met-Hgb 31-70%

met-Hgb > 70%

blood ethanol < 22 mmol/L

blood ethanol 22-44 mmol/L

blood ethanol 45-66 mmol/L

blood ethanol > 66 mmol/L

serum salicylate level mild on Done nomogram

serum salicylate moderate on Done nomogram

serum salicylate level severe on Done nomogram

 

 

temperature < 35°C

 

 

 

temperature 38-40°C

temperature 40-41°C

temperature > 41°C

 

serum potassium 2.5 - 2.9 mmol/L

serum potassium 2.0-2.4 mmol/L

serum potassium > 2.4 mmol/L

 

serum potassium 6.1-7.0 mmol/L

serum potassium  7.1-8.0 mmol/L

serum potassium > 8.0 mmol/L

 

 

rhabdomyolysis

 

 

where:

• In the original table, grade 2 blood ethanol was given as >= 22 mmol/L and grade 3 as 22-66 mmol/L; I have taken 44 as midpoint for range.

 

Corrosive Effect

 

1 (mild)

2 (moderate)

3 (severe)

4 (very severe)

first degree burn (skin)

second degree burn < 5% BSA infants; < 10% BSA children adults

second degree burn 5-10% BSA in infant, 10-20% in children and adults

second degree burn > 10% BSA in infant, > 20% in children and adults

 

third degree burn < 2% BSA in children or adults

third degree burns < 2% BSA in infants, 2-10% in children and adults

 third degree burns > 2% BSA in infants, > 10% in children and adults

oral hyperemia

oral erosions and/or small ulcers

deep and wide oral ulcers

 

first degree lesion on endoscopy

second degree lesion on endoscopy

third degree lesion on endoscopy

perforation of esophagus or stomach; necrosis of intestinal walls with loss of normal mucosal aspects

conjunctival hyperemia

 

 

 

corneal erosion

initial corneal necrosis (reversible ischemia)

total corneal necrosis (irreversible ischemia)

ocular perforation

 

Interpretation:

• Each patient is classified by the highest level attributed to any one of the 9 parameters.

 


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