Calculators & Tools

PCDAI — Paediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index

Abbreviated disease-activity index for paediatric Crohn’s disease.

1 What is the PCDAI — Paediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index?

The PCDAI — Paediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index is a GI & Liver scoring tool used in paediatric practice. Abbreviated disease-activity index for paediatric Crohn’s disease. It scores 8 criteria and interprets the total across 3 bands, so the number always arrives with the severity it implies rather than on its own. In PediAid each criterion is shown as a labelled option with the weight it carries, so the total can be checked rather than taken on trust.

2 When to use it

  • Grading severity at the bedside in GI & Liver
  • Recording an objective severity band in the case notes
  • Deciding when a total crosses the threshold for escalation
  • Re-scoring to track whether a child is improving or deteriorating
  • Checking the exact criteria of a score used infrequently

3 Formula & method

The score sums 8 criteria: Abdominal pain; Stools per day; General wellbeing; Weight; Height (at diagnosis) or height velocity (follow-up); Abdomen on examination; Peri-rectal disease; Extra-intestinal manifestations (fever, arthritis, uveitis, EN, PG). Totals are then banded: any score - Remission: pCDAI ≤10 - clinical remission (some authors use <10); 11 points or more - Mild: pCDAI 11-30 - mild disease activity; 31 points or more - Moderate-severe: pCDAI >30 - moderate to severe disease. Escalate therapy and involve paediatric gastroenterology.
  • This is the abbreviated (clinical) PCDAI; the original also includes haematocrit, ESR and albumin.
  • Source: Hyams JS et al. Development and validation of a pediatric Crohn’s disease activity index. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1991;12:439-47.

4 Frequently asked questions

How many criteria does the PCDAI — Paediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index use?

8. They are Abdominal pain; Stools per day; General wellbeing; Weight; Height (at diagnosis) or height velocity (follow-up); Abdomen on examination; and others.

What do the bands of the PCDAI — Paediatric Crohn’s Disease Activity Index mean?

The total is interpreted as: any score - Remission: pCDAI ≤10 - clinical remission (some authors use <10); 11 points or more - Mild: pCDAI 11-30 - mild disease activity; 31 points or more - Moderate-severe: pCDAI >30 - moderate to severe disease. Escalate therapy and involve paediatric gastroenterology.

Does the score replace clinical judgement?

No. It is a structured way to record and communicate severity. A clinician concerned about a child should act on that concern regardless of the total.

Where does this score come from?

This is the abbreviated (clinical) PCDAI; the original also includes haematocrit, ESR and albumin.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Score definitions are bundled with the PediAid app, so the score computes without a connection.

For qualified clinicians. This page and the PediAid app are a clinical aid only. Calculations and reference data must be verified against the patient's clinical context, the source guideline and your local protocols before any treatment decision is made.