Passive smoking, as measured by hair nicotine, and severity of acute lower respiratory illnesses among children

Table 1 The severity categories according to the clinical signs and management criteria

Severity group	Respiratory rate (RR) [>50/min^aor >40/min^b]	Chest Indrawing	SaO₂ %^c	0₂ supplement (hours)	Days of admission	ICU admission	CPAP
1	-^d	-	>95	-	1	-	-
2	+^e	Intercostal	>95	-	1–2	-	-
3	±^f	subcostal	>95	-	2–3	-	-
4	±	±	91–95	<48	4–5	-	-
5	±	±	<91	≥ 48	>5	+	+

^a: RR per minute for children under the age of 12 months.
^b: RR per minute for children aged 12 months or more.
^c: oxygen saturation percent in plasma.
^d: a negative finding (absent)
^e: a positive finding (present).
^f: finding may be present or absent (i.e. becomes irrelevant for that specific severity group).

ISSN: 1617-9625