Table 1 Bronchiolitis severity scoring scale. After admission, the patient’s severity was assessed based on respiratory rate, presence of audible rales, chest wall retractions, oxygen saturation, and general condition (feeding volume, irritability, lethargy, etc.). The total score was calculated as follows: mild severity, 0–5 points; moderate severity, 6–9 points; and severe severity, 10–15 points. Based on the scoring system, the patients were categorized into groups: 24 cases were assessed as mild, and 26 cases as moderate to severe.
Score | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Feeding volume | Normal | Decreased to more than 75% of normal, mild irritability | Decreased to 50–75% of normal, obvious irritability | Decreased to less than 50% of normal, extremely irritable, drowsy, comatose |
Respiratory rate | < 30 breaths/min | 30–45 breaths/min | > 45–60 breaths/min | > 60 breaths/min |
Inspiratory retraction of the chest wall | None | Mild intercostal retraction is relatively obvious | Moderate intercostal retraction | Extremely obvious intercostal retraction accompanied by head—nodding breathing or suprasternal retraction |
Oxygen saturation | ≥ 95% | 92–94% | 90–91% | ≤ 89% |
Wheezing and/or rales | None | Only audible during expiration | Audible in both phases of respiration (on auscultation only) | Audible in both phases of respiration (not relying on stethoscope) |
