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Table 2 The 10- and 4-point Gorelick Scale for dehydration: for children 1 month-5 years; 4-point scale physical exam signs highlighted in italic font

From: Comparing the accuracy of the three popular clinical dehydration scales in children with diarrhea

Characteristic

No or minimal dehydration

Moderate to severe dehydration

General appearance

Alert

Restless, lethargic, unconscious

Capillary refill

Normal

Prolonged or minimal

Tears

Present

Absent

Mucous membranes

Moist

Dry, very dry

Eyes

Normal

Sunken; deeply sunken

Breathing

Present

Deep; deep and rapid

Quality of pulses

Normal

Thready; weak or impalpable

Skin elasticity

Instant recoil

Recoil slowly; recoil > 2 s

Heart rate

Normal

Tachycardia

Urine output

Normal

Reduced; not passed in many hours

  1. Scoring: 4 point scale (italics): ≥ 2 Clinical Signs (4 pt) ≥5% BWΔ; ≥
  2. 3 Clinical Signs (4 pt) ≥10% BWΔ; 10 point scale (all signs/symptoms):
  3. ≥ 3 Clinical Signs ≥5% BWΔ; ≥ 7 Clinical Signs ≥10% BWΔ