ToolsCalculators
Westley Croup Score
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.