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Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (under age 5)

Eye, verbal and motor response with descriptors for infants and young children. Total range 3 to 15.

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Training aid only. Verify every value against your local protocol and medical direction before acting on it.

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Children under 5

From age 5 the adult Glasgow Coma Scale applies. Each verbal and motor row gives the infant’s response first and, in parentheses, the equivalent for a young child who talks.
Eye opening (E)
Verbal response (V)
Motor response (M)

Result

Choose a response for eye, verbal and motor to see a total.

Source

Adapted from the adult scale of Teasdale G, Jennett B (Lancet. 1974; Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1976). The infant-modified descriptors are commonly attributed to James HE, Trauner DA. In: James HE, Anas NG, Perkin RM, eds. Brain Insults in Infants and Children. Grune & Stratton; 1985, and follow the version widely taught in US pediatric emergency courses. Other pediatric versions differ, for example Reilly PL, Simpson DA, Sprod R, Thomas L. Childs Nerv Syst. 1988;4(1):30-33; this tool uses one set and names it rather than blending them.

For children under 5. From age 5 the adult scale applies. Score what the child does against what is normal for their age, and a parent's account of their normal is worth asking for. No severity band is shown, because the adult bands were set for the adult scale.

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