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Sum five exam domains commonly taught with the Clinical Dehydration Scale tradition: general appearance, sunken eyes, mucous membranes, tears, and skin pinch / turgor (each scored 0–2). The total (0–10) maps to minimal / mild / moderate / severe teaching bands that echo oral rehydration and escalation discussions—not percent dehydration, not WHO IMCI certification, and not a replacement for in-person pediatric assessment. Explore medical & health calculators.
Last updated: April 20, 2026
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Moderate pattern (total 5–7, educational)
5 / 10
General
1
Eyes
1
Mucosa
1
Tears
1
Skin
1
Moderate dehydration concern (total 5–7): same-day pediatric evaluation is commonly taught; oral rehydration solution in small frequent volumes may be appropriate only when prescribed and tolerated—watch for vomiting, lethargy, and decreased urine.
Infants under 3 months with fever, bilious vomiting, bloody stool, or poor feeding need urgent evaluation regardless of score. This tool does not replace IMCI/PECARN pathways.
Reinforces bedside observation skills used in acute gastroenteritis teaching when scales and weights are not immediately available.
Lethargy or limp tone receives the highest subscore because mental status changes often prompt urgent evaluation pathways in pediatric education.
Lower totals support classroom discussion of home oral rehydration; higher totals pivot to supervised care and emergency themes—not automated orders.
Percent dehydration estimates may combine pre-illness weight, I/O, and labs; this page stays strictly with the classic exam checklist pedagogy.
Students can rescore after instructor reveals new exam findings (for example new lethargy) to practice dynamic reassessment language.
Pair with the adult dehydration symptom checklist on this site to discuss why pediatric assessment centers on perfusion, tears, and fontanelle context in curricula.
Default demo: each domain scored 1 (intermediate) → total 5 / 10 → moderate teaching band on this page.
0–2 minimal · 3–4 mild · 5–7 moderate · 8–10 severe (educational only).
Each dropdown stores 0, 1, or 2 for one physical-exam theme. The engine clamps inputs, sums the five integers, and selects a severity label for teaching narrative. No laboratory data, weight deltas, or heart rate are entered in this simplified form.
The Clinical Dehydration Scale family emphasizes observable mucocutaneous and behavioral findings that clinicians can track during ORS trials—complementing, not replacing, vital signs and caregiver history.
For adult-oriented dehydration symptoms, see our dehydration severity calculator.
Get a Custom Calculator for Your PlatformAll domains scored 2 → total 10 / 10 → severe band on this page—used in debrief to emphasize emergency evaluation, possible isotonic bolus protocols under physician direction, and stopping oral intake if altered mental status or shock is suspected—not self-directed care from a website.
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