Assessing the conscious level in infants and young children: a paediatric version of the Glasgow Coma Scale
Date
1988
Authors
Reilly, P.
Simpson, D.
Sprod, R.
Thomas, L.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Child's Nervous System, 1988; 4(1):30-33
Statement of Responsibility
P.L. Reilly, D.A. Simpson, R. Sprod and L. Thomas
Conference Name
Abstract
The Glasgow Coma Scale is widely accepted as a measure of impaired consciousness both in clinical practice and in research. In its standard form, the scale is inapplicable to infants and children below the age of 5 years. We have devised a paediatric coma scale, which recognises that the expected normal verbal and motor responses must be related to the patient's age. This scale has been routinely used in a paediatric teaching hospital over a 10-year period and has appeared to be satisfactory, although it is less sensitive to changes in the conscious level than the adult scale. We have assessed the consistency of observer evaluation, using video tapes of infants and children exhibiting varying levels of consciousness: when conducted after formal instruction, assessments were reasonably consistent.