Yale Observation Scale (YOS)
Yale Observation Scale (McCarthy 1982): six observation items (quality of cry, reaction to parents, state variation, color, hydration, response to social overtures) each scored 1, 3, or 5.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Quality of cry
- 1
- Reaction to parent stimulation
- 1
- State variation
- 1
- Color
- 1
- Hydration
- 1
- Response to social overtures
- 1
Result: YOS 6 of 30: low SBI risk per McCarthy 1982 (<=10 band).
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- <=10
- Low SBI risk per McCarthy 1982.
- 11-15
- Increased SBI risk per McCarthy 1982.
- >=16
- High probability of serious bacterial infection per McCarthy 1982.
What you enter
- Quality of cry (1/3/5)
- Reaction to parent stimulation (1/3/5)
- State variation (1/3/5)
- Color (1/3/5)
- Hydration (1/3/5)
- Response to social overtures (1/3/5)
How this is calculated
McCarthy PL, Sharpe MR, Spiesel SZ, et al. Observation scales to identify serious illness in febrile children. Pediatrics. 1982;70(5):802-809. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.