Westley Croup Score Calculator

Westley Croup Score Calculator for Pediatrics. This widget uses 0-2 mild, 3-5 moderate, 6-11 severe, and 12-17 as its highest category. Published category conventions differ, so the earlier 3-7 and 8-11 bands must not be described as the component's output. Cyanosis, reduced consciousness, exhaustion, or poor air entry can demand urgent action regardless of the aggregate label.

For shared guidance on choosing a tool and documenting results, read the clinical calculator workflow.

How this calculator works

The Westley total adds five clinical domain weights for a possible range of 0 to 17. It provides a structured severity description and has historical use in croup research. The component adds the selected weights; it does not measure respiratory reserve or predict an individual child's outcome.

When to use this calculator

Use a structured assessment as part of a pediatric croup pathway, never in place of urgent evaluation of respiratory distress. The Canadian Paediatric Society guidance, updated in 2026, emphasizes clinical severity and treatment response rather than making this site's numerical bands universal treatment commands.

Inputs used

  • Consciousness
  • Cyanosis
  • Stridor
  • Air entry
  • Retractions

Clinical interpretation

This widget uses 0-2 mild, 3-5 moderate, 6-11 severe, and 12-17 as its highest category. Published category conventions differ, so the earlier 3-7 and 8-11 bands must not be described as the component's output. Cyanosis, reduced consciousness, exhaustion, or poor air entry can demand urgent action regardless of the aggregate label.

Worked example

Domain weights 0 for consciousness, 0 for cyanosis, 2 for stridor, 1 for air entry, and 2 for retractions sum to 5. The component labels 5 moderate. Its largest possible combination is 5 +5 +2 +2 +3 =17. These examples check the displayed weighting and addition.

Limitations and safety notes

The clinical examination and trajectory matter more than a reassuring total. Corticosteroids and, when indicated, nebulized epinephrine belong within the full local treatment pathway. Epinephrine's benefit is temporary; observation assesses recurrence as it wears off, not an assumed rebound worsening beyond baseline. This review does not establish bedside inter-rater reliability.

Frequently asked questions

Why do numerical categories differ between references?

The same weighted scale is described using different severity conventions; identify the version being used.

Does a moderate total make cyanosis safe?

No. A dangerous individual finding takes precedence over an aggregate label.

Is a short-lived response enough for discharge?

No. Reassessment, observation, and the local discharge criteria are required.

References

  • Original1978 Westley trial identity and historical score context. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/347921/
  • Canadian Paediatric Society acute croup guidance, updated2026: clinical severity, transient epinephrine effect, observation. https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/acute-management-of-croup

Editorial review and citation methodology

Maintained by the Quick Medical Calculator Editorial Team. Content record date: September 7, 2026. A content date is not evidence of independent clinical review. Individual clinical sign-off is not recorded on this page.

  • Prefer original validation studies for scoring systems and prediction tools.
  • Use current specialty society guidance, transplant allocation policy, public health guidance, or regulator resources when they govern clinical use.
  • Include limitations and safety notes when a calculator is population-specific, context-dependent, or unsuitable as a standalone decision tool.

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