Relationship between arterial blood gas tensions and a clinical score in asthmatic children.

In order to evaluate the severity of acute asthma in young children, we used the clinical scoring system devised by Mitsui. This scoring system is constructed by reference only to clinical symptoms and signs such as dyspnea, wheezing, auscultation of rales, speech impairment, cyanosis, and mental status. All patients were less than 5 years old. The clinical scores had a statistically significant correlation with PaO2. High scores definitely were associated with hypoxemia but low scores did not exclude hypoxemia. Scores showed good correlation with the values of PaCO2 compared with the values of PaO2. Scores under 3 were associated with PaCO2 values less than 40 mmHg; scores over 7, with PaCO2 over 40 mmHg. Reproducibility was good, and there was a good relationship between scores and blood gas tensions in individuals. Rales correlated with PaO2. Dyspnea and cyanosis had good correlation with PaCO2.