Symptoms:
(1) malaise (bothersome loss of energy or restriction in physical activity)
(2) myalgia (muscle aches, or use of analgesic for muscle aches)
(3) nasal congestion (blockage of one or both nostrils, or need for a decongestant)
(4) rhinorrhea (need for >= 2 tissues per hour)
(5) cough (productive or bothersome cough, or use of an antitussive agent)
(6) sore throat (sore throat, or use of gargles or analgesic for throat pain, or difficulty swallowing)
(7) fever (temperature > 37.5°C)
|
Severity of Symptoms (except fever)
|
Points
|
|
none (absent)
|
0
|
|
mild
|
1
|
|
moderate
|
2
|
|
severe
|
3
|
where:
• A symptom was considered significant if it was moderate or severe.
score for non-fever symptoms =
= SUM(points for the first 6 symptoms)
Fever was handled as present (> 37.5°C) or absent. Below is a tentative scoring system that I created for the implementation. Alternatively it could be scored 0 if absent and 2 if > 37.5°C. The presence of a high fever would tend to favor a bacterial infection over a viral infection.
|
Severity of Fever
|
Points
|
|
<= 37.0 °C
|
0
|
|
37.1 (98.8) to 37.5 (99.5)
|
1
|
|
37.6 (99.6) to 38.1 (100.5)
|
2
|
|
>= 38.2
|
3
|
Interpretation:
• minimum symptom score: 0
• maximum symptom score: 18 (non-fever symptoms), 21 (all 7 symptoms).
• The greater the symptom score, the more severe the syndrome.
