Oberger and Engstrom graded the severity of symptoms in a child with asthma. The authors are from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
Parameters:
(1) wheezing
(2) dyspnea
(3) rhonchi
(4) able to move about
(5) using accessory muscles
|
Wheezing |
Dyspnea |
Rhonchi |
Moving About |
Accessory Muscles |
Grade |
|
none |
none |
none |
Yes |
No |
0 |
|
none |
none |
infrequent |
Yes |
No |
1 |
|
slight |
slight |
present |
Yes |
No |
2 |
|
moderate |
moderate |
NA |
Yes |
No |
3 |
|
marked |
marked |
NA |
No |
some |
4 |
|
extreme |
extreme |
NA |
No |
maximum |
5 |
where:
• Anxiety is often significant for a child in Grade 5.
Grade 6 refers to a child in respiratory failure and a depressed level of consciousness.
Limitations:
• The responses need to be consistent. For example, maximum use of accessory muscles would be unusual in the absence of wheezing.
Specialty: Pulmonology
