Table 1.

Clinical scores for assessing severity of croup.

Croup scoring systems
Downes and Raphaely Croup Score
Total score ranging from 0–10 points. Five component items make up the score:
• inspiratory breath sounds (0 = normal, 1 = harsh with rhonchi, 2 = delayed)
• stridor (0 = normal, 1 = inspiratory, 2 = inspiratory and expiratory)
• cough (0 = none, 1 = hoarse cry, 2 = bark)
• retractions/nasal flaring (0 = normal, 1 = suprasternal/present, 2 = suprasternal and intercostal/present)
• cyanosis (0 = none, 1 = in room air, 2 = in FIO2 0.4)
Taussig Croup Score
Total score ranging from 0–14 points. Five component items make up the score:
• colour (0 = normal, 1 = dusky, 2 = cyanotic in air, 3 = cyanotic in 30–40% oxygen)
• air entry (0 = normal, 1 = mildly diminished, 2 = moderately diminished, 3 = substantially diminished)
• retractions (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe)
• level of consciousness (0 = normal, 1 = restlessness, 2 = lethargy [depression])
• stridor (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe [or no stridor in the presence of other signs of severe obstruction])
Westley Croup Score
Total score ranging from 0–17 points. Five component items make up the score:
• stridor (0 = none, 1 = with agitation only, 2 = at rest)
• retractions (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe)
• cyanosis (0 = none, 4 = cyanosis with agitation, 5 = cyanosis at rest)
• level of consciousness (0 = normal [including asleep], 5 = disorientated)
• air entry (0 = normal, 1 = decreased, , 2 = markedly decreased)