Bubble Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (bNCPAP): An Effective Low-Cost Intervention for Resource-Constrained Settings

Table 3

Downes score.

Clinical parameter	Score
	0	1	2
Respiratory rate (per minute)	60	60-80	>80 or apneic episodes
Cyanosis	None	In room air	In 40% inspired oxygen concentration
Retractions	None	Mild	Moderate to severe
Grunting	None	Audible with stethoscope	Audible without stethoscope
Air entry (crying)	Clear	Delayed or decreased	Barely audible

The RDS score is the sum of the individual scores for each of the five observations. Air entry represents the quality of inspiratory breath sounds as heard in the midaxillary line. FiO₂: fraction of inspired oxygen. Reference [75].