Parameter* | Points | Score |
Respiratory rate | ||
For infants ≤2 months of age: <60 bpm For infants 3 to <12 months: <50 bpm For children 12 to 24 months: <40 bpm | 1 | |
For infants <2 months of age: 60 to 69 bpm For infants 2 to <12 months: 50 to 59 bpm For children 12 to 24 months: 40 to 49 bpm | 2 | |
For infants <2 months of age: ≥70 bpm For infants 2 to <12 months: ≥60 bpm For children 12 to 24 months: ≥50 bpm | 3 | |
Respiratory effort | ||
Normal | 0 | |
Mild subcostal or intercostal retractions | 1 | |
Moderate subcostal, intercostal, and/or substernal retractions with or without nasal flaring but no grunting or head bobbing | 2 | |
Severe subcostal, intercostal, and/or suprasternal retractions; grunting and flaring; head bobbing | 3 | |
Lung examination | ||
Good aeration, normal breath sounds | 0 | |
Scattered wheezes and/or rhonchi, good lung aeration | 1 | |
Diffuse wheezes and/or rhonchi, prolonged exhalation, decreased aeration | 2 | |
Poor lung aeration | 3 | |
Activity level and feeding | ||
Normal activity, feeding, and vocalization | 0 | |
Some fussiness and difficulty feeding, but consoles easily | 1 | |
Agitated, poor feeding, decreased vocalization | 2 | |
Lethargic, not able to feed, not vocalizing | 3 | |
Total (maximum score 12) | ||
Interpretation | ||
Mild | 1 to 4 | |
Moderate | 5 to 8 | |
Severe | 9 to 12 |
bpm: breaths per minute; RSS: respiratory severity score.
* While not included in the RSS, the presence of apnea signals severe illness. Apnea is most common in preterm infants and infants <2 months old.Do you want to add Medilib to your home screen?