ToolsCalculators
Westley Croup Score
Grades croup severity from level of consciousness, cyanosis, stridor, air entry, and retractions.
Westley Croup Score
Level of consciousness
Cyanosis
Stridor
Air entry
Retractions
Result0 points
Mild croup.
- Severity category
- Mild
When to use
- Grading croup (laryngotracheobronchitis) severity in children to guide treatment (e.g., nebulised epinephrine, corticosteroids) and disposition decisions.
Formula
Sum of five items: level of consciousness (0 or 5), cyanosis (0, 4, or 5), stridor (0-2), air entry (0-2), retractions (0-3). Total range 0-17.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Commonly categorised as mild (0-2), moderate (3-7), severe (8-11), and impending respiratory failure (≥12), though exact cutoffs vary slightly between studies.
- Originally developed to standardise assessment of croup severity for a clinical trial of nebulised racemic epinephrine.