What does the Truelove-Witts Index measure?

It classifies the severity of a ulcerative colitis flare as mild, moderate, or severe using six parameters: daily stool frequency with blood, temperature, pulse, hemoglobin, and ESR. Severe disease meets any one of the severe criteria; mild disease meets all mild criteria; anything in between is moderate.

What hemoglobin unit should I use?

Enter hemoglobin in g/dL (grams per deciliter), which is the most common clinical unit. For example, a normal adult value is roughly 12–17 g/dL depending on sex.

What ESR unit should I use?

Enter ESR in mm/hr (millimeters per hour) as measured by the Westergren method. A value above 30 mm/hr is considered elevated in this index.

Is this tool a substitute for clinical judgment?

No. This tool is for educational and reference purposes only. All clinical decisions — including diagnosis, treatment, and hospitalization — must be made by a qualified healthcare professional considering the full clinical picture.

What are the original Truelove-Witts severe criteria?

Severe disease requires 6 or more bloody stools per day PLUS at least one of: fever above 37.8 °C (100 °F), pulse above 90 bpm, hemoglobin below 10.5 g/dL, or ESR above 30 mm/hr.

How does moderate disease differ from mild?

Mild disease has fewer than 4 bloody stools per day with no systemic disturbance and a normal ESR. Moderate disease falls between mild and severe — 4 to 6 bloody stools per day or borderline systemic signs.

Truelove-Witts Severity Index

Name: Truelove-Witts Severity Index
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Enter clinical parameters to classify ulcerative colitis as mild, moderate, or severe using the Truelove and Witts criteria.

Clinical Parameters

Enter values from the current flare episode.

Bloody stools per day

Temperature

Pulse rate (bpm)

Hemoglobin (g/dL)

ESR (mm/hr)

Enter clinical values and click Classify Severity to see the result.

Summary