Baby Check and the Avon infant mortality study

Article Abstract:

Baby Check is a system of rating the severity of illness in infants from birth to six months. A study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of this system in predicting sudden death in infants. In the Baby Check system, seven symptoms and 12 signs are examined and scored. The overall score indicates the degree of illness, with the highest scores reflecting most severe illness. A score less than 8 indicates the infant is well or at least not ill enough to require medical attention. With a score between 8 and 12, an infant is considered to be sick but not severely ill; a health professional may be contacted for medical advice in this range of scores. Scores greater than 13 indicate that the infant is seriously ill and should be seen by a doctor. One study showed that sudden and unexpected death in an infant may be preceded by serious illness but undetected symptoms. The symptoms and signs occurring 24 hours before infant death were assessed by questioning the mothers of 38 infants that had died suddenly and unexpectedly over a nine-month period. The study also included 76 mothers with normal infants of ages similar to those of the deceased infants. A modified version of the Baby Check was used to assess signs and symptoms and produced very high scores in three cases of infant death. The findings suggest that the Baby Check would have been useful in detecting severe illness before death in this small number of cases. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Patient outcomes, Mortality, Risk factors, Infant mortality, Sudden infant death syndrome

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Field trials of the Baby Check score card in general practice

Article Abstract:

It can be difficult for general practitioners to determine the severity of illness in infants. Baby Check is a scoring system, developed for parents and health practitioners, which uses 19 symptoms to assess the severity of illness. More severe illness is given a higher score. The index was not designed for babies with obvious problems, nor does it address the medical history, an important aspect of the physician's examination. The use of the Baby Check index by 16 general practitioners was evaluated. The physicians reported that Baby Check was usually helpful and seldom difficult or unclear. All but one physician (94 percent) said it was useful and would trust it as an indicator of severity of illness. Most would use the index if it became generally available and would like their non-physician associates and infants' parents to use it. Thirty-eight percent would use it routinely, while 62 percent said they would use it if there was a risk of serious illness. Ninety-two percent of the Baby Check assessments were judged to be appropriate. Mild illness was found in 64 percent of babies; intermediate illness, indicating a need for careful observation and testing, was found in 31 percent of babies; and severe illness was found in 5 percent. The study indicates that Baby Check should be helpful in the assessment of babies with non-specific illnesses. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Evaluation, Surveys, Diseases, Health status indicators, Physicians (General practice), General practitioners

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