Last Updated on May 27, 2025
The Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale or Pediatric Glasgow Coma Score (PGCS) is an adaptation of the Glasgow Coma Scale and is used to assess the consciousness of infants and children.
At a Glance: Quick Access to Pediatric GCS
Pediatric GCS: Eye Opening, Motor, and Verbal Response- Table
| Response | < 1 Year | > 1 Year | Score | |
| Eye Opening | Spontaneous | Spontaneous | 4 | |
| To shout | To verbal command | 3 | ||
| To pain | To pain | 2 | ||
| No response | No response | 1 | ||
| Motor Response | Spontaneous movement | Obeys commands | 6 | |
| localizes pain/ Withdraws to touch | Localizes pain | 5 | ||
| Withdraws to pain | Flexion-withdrawal | 4 | ||
| Abnormal flexion | Abnormal flexion | 3 | ||
| Extension | Extension | 2 | ||
| No response | No response | 1 | ||
| Verbal Response | < 2 Years | 2–5 Years | >5 Years | |
| Smiles, coos, or babbles | Appropriate words/phrases | Oriented | 5 | |
| Cries but is consolable | Inappropriate words | Confused/disoriented | 4 | |
| Persistent crying/screaming | Persistent cries/screams | Inappropriate words | 3 | |
| Grunts/agitated/restless | Grunts | Incomprehensible sounds | 2 | |
| No response | No response | No response | 1 | |
| Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale Total Score (3-15)= Interpretation: 13–15 = mild, 9–12 = moderate, ≤8 = severe). Any score ≤ 8 is a medical emergency—consider airway protection | ||||
Prefer a visual reference? Download or enlarge the Pediatric GCS chart below
Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale Explained (Scoring Breakdown)
The Pediatric Glasgow Coma Scale (PGCS) uses age-adapted criteria to assess eye opening, verbal, and motor responses in infants and children. The following detailed breakdown is for reference; see the table above for quick use.
Eye Opening (E)
- 4: Spontaneous
- 3: To verbal command (for infants: to shout)
- 2: To pain
- 1: No response
Verbal Response (V)
For different age groups:
- <2 years
- 5: Smiles, coos, or babbles
- 4: Cries but is consolable
- 3: Persistent crying/screaming
- 2: Grunts, agitated, or restless
- 1: No response
- 2–5 years
- 5: Appropriate words or phrases
- 4: Inappropriate words
- 3: Persistent cries or screams
- 2: Grunts
- 1: No response
- >5 years
- 5: Oriented
- 4: Confused or disoriented
- 3: Inappropriate words
- 2: Incomprehensible sounds
- 1: No response
Motor Response (M)6: Obeys commands (infants: spontaneous movement)
- 5: Localizes pain / withdraws to touch
- 4: Flexion-withdrawal / withdraws to pain
- 3: Abnormal flexion (decorticate)
- 2: Extension (decerebrate)
- 1: No response
Interpretation and Documentation
- Total Score = E + V + M (range: 3–15)
- 13–15: Mild injury
- 9–12: Moderate injury
- ≤8: Severe injury (medical emergency—consider airway protection)
- Always record component scores (e.g., E2 V4 M5) and note special situations:
- If intubated: use “V1t”
- If eyes are swollen shut: use “E1c”
For children with known developmental delay, compare to baseline function when possible.
References
- Mehta R; GP trainee; Chinthapalli K; consultant neurologist. Glasgow coma scale explained. BMJ. 2019 May 2;365:l1296. doi: 10.1136/bmj.l1296. [PubMed]
- Kirkham FJ, Newton CR, Whitehouse W. Paediatric coma scales. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2008 Apr;50(4):267-74. [PubMed]
