Wainwright et al used a score for measuring the degree of respiratory effort in infants with acute bronchiolitis. The authors are from multiple institutions in Queensland, Australia.
Patient selections: infants <= 12 months of age
Parameters evaluated during clinical observation:
(1) intercostal recession
(2) subcostal recession
(3) substernal recession
(4) tracheal tug
(5) nasal flaring
Degree
Points
none
0
mild
1
moderate
1
severe
2
total weighted score =
= (points for intercostal recession) + (points for subcostal recession) + (points for substernal recession) + (1.5 * (points for tracheal tug)) + (1.5 * (points for nasal flaring))
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 12
• The higher the score the more severe the respiratory effort.
Total Score
Degree of Effort
0 to 4.9 (4)
mild
5.0 to 8.9 (8)
moderate
9.0 to 12
severe
where:
• I would think a total score of 0 would indicate no respiratory effort.
• The breakpoints include decimal fractions but the results are all in whole numbers.
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