Flores et al used a simple score to determine the severity of diarrhea associated with rotavirus gastroenteritis in infants. It is a modification of the scale reported by Hjelt et al. The authors are from National Institutes of Health, Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas, and Hospital de Nino JM De Los Rios.
Patient selection: infant with gastroenteritis
Parameters:
(1) duration of diarrhea
(2) maximum number of diarrheal stools in 24 hours
(3) duration of vomiting
(4) rectal temperature in °C
(5) dehydration
(6) required hospitalization
|
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
|
duration of diarrhea |
< 2 days |
1 |
|
|
2 to 4 days |
2 |
|
|
>= 5 days |
3 |
|
maximum number of diarrheal stools in 24 hours |
<= 2 |
0 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
|
|
4 or 5 |
2 |
|
|
>= 6 |
3 |
|
duration of vomiting |
none |
0 |
|
|
1 to 2 days |
1 |
|
|
>= 3 days |
2 |
|
rectal temperature |
< 38.1°C |
0 |
|
|
>= 38.1°C |
1 |
|
dehydration |
none |
0 |
|
|
<= 5% |
2 |
|
|
> 5% |
3 |
|
hospitalization |
no |
0 |
|
|
yes |
2 |
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 1
• maximum score: 14
• The higher the score the more severe the gastroenteritis.
Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Surgery, general, Gastroenterology
