nirudak_score: NIRUDAK Score for Dehydration in Children

In cliot: Clinical Indices and Outcomes Tools

NIRUDAK Score for Dehydration in Children

Description

Calculates the NIRUDAK (Novel Innovative Research Understanding Dehydration) Score, a clinical prediction rule to assess the severity of dehydration in children. The score uses a combination of six easily assessable clinical signs to predict significant dehydration (e.g., \ge 5% weight loss).

Usage

nirudak_score(crt_seconds, tachycardia_present, lethargy_coma, dry_mucous_membranes,
              cold_mottled_extremities, sunken_eyes)

Arguments

crt_seconds	Numeric. Capillary Refill Time (CRT) in seconds. (\ge 3 seconds adds 2 points).
tachycardia_present	Numeric (0 or 1). Presence of tachycardia (Heart Rate greater than the 90th percentile for age). (1 = Yes, +2 points).
lethargy_coma	Numeric (0 or 1). Altered mental status (lethargy or comatose). (1 = Yes, +2 points).
dry_mucous_membranes	Numeric (0 or 1). Dry mucous membranes (DMM) present. (1 = Yes, +1 point).
cold_mottled_extremities	Numeric (0 or 1). Presence of cold or mottled extremities. (1 = Yes, +2 points).
sunken_eyes	Numeric (0 or 1). Sunken eyes present. (1 = Yes, +1 point).

Value

A list containing:

NIRUDAK_Score	The calculated total score (Range 0-10).
Risk_Level	Risk stratification (Low < 3, Moderate 3-5, High \ge 6).

References

Jackson MC, et al. A clinical prediction rule for significant dehydration in children: The NIRUDAK score. Lancet. 2018;391(10116):159-166.

Examples

# Example 1: High Risk (Severe Dehydration Likely)
# CRT 4s (+2), Tachycardia (+2), Cold Extremities (+2)
# Score = 6
nirudak_score(4, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0)

# Example 2: Low Risk
# CRT 2s, No tachycardia, Dry Mucous Membranes (+1)
# Score = 1
nirudak_score(2, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0)

cliot documentation built on Dec. 1, 2025, 1:06 a.m.