Heckerling Pneumonia Prediction Rule
Heckerling clinical prediction rule for pneumonia (Heckerling 1990).
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Temperature > 37.8 C
- Yes
- Heart rate > 100 /min
- Yes
- Crackles (rales) on auscultation
- Yes
Result: Heckerling 3/5 — intermediate probability (about 24.9%).
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- 5 predictors
- temperature > 37.8 C, heart rate > 100/min, crackles, decreased breath sounds, and absence of asthma — each 1 point.
- 0-1
- low probability of a radiographic infiltrate; imaging often unnecessary (~3-4%, prevalence-dependent).
- 2-3
- intermediate probability (~14-25%); a chest radiograph helps.
- 4-5
- high probability (~60-81%); obtain a chest radiograph.
What you enter
- Temperature > 37.8 C (100 F)
- Heart rate > 100 /min
- Crackles (rales) on auscultation
- Decreased breath sounds
- Absence of asthma (patient has no asthma)
How this is calculated
Heckerling PS, Tape TG, Wigton RS, et al. Clinical prediction rule for pulmonary infiltrates. Ann Intern Med. 1990;113(9):664-670. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.