RDAI / Tal Bronchiolitis Severity
RDAI + Tal score: the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (0–17, wheezing + retractions) and the Tal bronchiolitis severity score (0–12) from bedside respiratory findings.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- RDAI: expiratory wheeze
- 3
- RDAI: inspiratory wheeze
- 2
- RDAI: wheeze location
- 2
- RDAI: supraclavicular retractions
- 2
- RDAI: intercostal retractions
- 2
- RDAI: subcostal retractions
- 1
- Tal: respiratory rate
- 2
- Tal: wheeze
- 2
- Tal: cyanosis
- 1
- Tal: accessory muscle use
- 2
Result: RDAI 12/17: bronchiolitis respiratory-distress total (higher means greater distress). Tal respiratory score 7/12: moderate.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- RDAI wheeze
- expiration 0-4, inspiration 0-2, and location 0-2.
- RDAI retractions
- supraclavicular, intercostal, and subcostal, each 0-3; the six sub-scores sum to 0-17.
- Tal 0-12
- respiratory rate, wheeze, cyanosis, and accessory-muscle use, each 0-3 (reported when entered).
What you enter
- RDAI: expiratory wheeze (0–4)
- RDAI: inspiratory wheeze (0–2)
- RDAI: wheeze location (0–2)
- RDAI: supraclavicular retractions (0–3)
- RDAI: intercostal retractions (0–3)
- RDAI: subcostal retractions (0–3)
- Tal: respiratory rate (0–3)
- Tal: wheeze (0–3)
- Tal: cyanosis (0–3)
- Tal: accessory muscle use (0–3)
How this is calculated
Lowell DI, Lister G, Von Koss H, McCarthy P. Wheezing in infants: the respiratory distress assessment instrument. Pediatrics. 1987;79(6):939-945; with the Tal score (Tal A, et al. Pediatrics. 1983;71(1):13-18). Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.