The Children's Coma Score can be used to evaluate the level of consciousness in young children for whom the Glasgow Coma Score may be inappropriate. This can help diagnose and monitor young children may have a decreased level of consciousness following head injury or from other causes. The authors are from Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University in Chicago.
Patient selection: young children 1 to 36 months of age
Parameters:
(1) ocular response
(2) verbal response
(3) motor response
Parameter
Finding
Points
ocular response
pursuit
4
extra-ocular muscles intact AND pupils reactive
3
extra-ocular muscles impaired OR pupils fixed
2
extra-ocular muscles paralyzed AND pupils fixed
1
verbal response
cries
3
spontaneous respirations
2
apneic
1
motor response
flexes and extends
4
withdraws from painful stimuli
3
hypertonic
2
flaccid
1
total score =
= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 3
• maximum score: 11
• The higher the score the better the level of consciousness.
Children's Coma Score
Comparable Glasgow Coma Score
11
9 to 15
8, 9 or 10
5 to 8
3 to 7
3 or 4
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