Nielsen et al used a simple score to describe the general condition of a sick child. The authors are from multiple hospitals in Denmark.
Patient selection: sick child
Parameters:
(1) level of consciousness and reaction to surroundings
(2) spontaneous motor activity
(3) skin color and circulation
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
level of consciousness and reaction to surroundings |
awake and reacts to surroundings, or wakens easily and stays awake |
3 |
|
|
reduced reaction to stimuli, or wakens but does not stay awake |
2 |
|
|
no or only brief reaction to stimuli, cannot waken or keep awake |
1 |
|
spontaneous motor activity |
normal |
3 |
|
|
slightly reduced |
2 |
|
|
severely reduced |
1 |
|
skin color and circulation |
pink |
3 |
|
|
hands and feet pale or cyanotic |
2 |
|
|
generalized pallor, cyanosis, grey, mottled |
1 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 3
• maximum score: 9
• The lower the score the worse the child's condition.
It is important to trend the patient's condition, especially early in the course. The initial score may be normal, only to decline over the next few hours.
Specialty: Pedatrics
