Accurately assess pediatric dehydration using our Clinical Dehydration Scale (CDS) calculator. This tool helps quickly score general appearance, eyes, mucous membranes, and tears to determine dehydration severity in children, guiding appropriate medical intervention.
Formula:
The Clinical Dehydration Scale (CDS) assesses dehydration severity in children by evaluating four key clinical signs. Each sign is scored from 0 to 2, with higher scores indicating greater dehydration:
- General Appearance: Normal (0), Thirsty/Restless/Irritable (1), Lethargic/Obtunded (2)
- Eyes: Normal (0), Slightly Sunken (1), Very Sunken (2)
- Mucous Membranes: Moist (0), Sticky (1), Dry (2)
- Tears: Present (0), Decreased (1), Absent (2)
The total CDS score is the sum of the scores for these four items:
CDS Score = General Appearance Score + Eyes Score + Mucous Membranes Score + Tears Score
Interpretation:
- 0: No Dehydration
- 1-4: Mild Dehydration
- 5-8: Moderate to Severe Dehydration