This PedsCases Note provides a one-page infographic on altered level of consciousness. It was created by Kennedy Lewis (Medical Student, University of Saskatchewan) with the help of Dr. Mackenzie Simpson (General Pediatrician, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario).

Click on the image below for the full-screen PDF handout.

Related Content

• Podcast: Altered Level of Consciousness

References

1. Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ. Pediatric Board Review: Certification and Recertification. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2019.

2. Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, editors. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Vol. 1. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2023.

3. Emergency Health Services, Nova Scotia. Clinical Practice Guideline 6210.02: Altered Level of Consciousness. Halifax (NS): Department of Health and Wellness, Government of Nova Scotia; 2013 Oct 11 [cited 2025 Apr 15]. Available from: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/ehs/documents/CPG/EHS6210.03%20Altered%20LOC.pdf

4. Mastrangelo M, Baglioni V. Management of neurological emergencies in children: an updated overview. Neuropediatrics. 2021;52(4):242–51.

5. Song JL, Wand VJ. Altered consciousness in pediatrics: AEIOU-TIPS, MOVE-STUPID. PEM Practice. 2017 Jan 2. Pharmacology CME supplement. Evidence-Based Medicine.

6. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. Clinical Practice Guidelines: Altered Conscious State [Internet]. Melbourne: The Royal Children’s Hospital; 2022 Nov [cited 2025 Apr 15]. Available from: https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/Altered_conscious_s...

7. Krmpotic K. A clinical approach to altered level of consciousness in the pediatric patient. Austin Pediatr. 2016;3(5):1046.

8. Hamilton JL, Evans SG, Bakshi M. Management of fever in infants and young children. Am Fam Physician. 2020 Jun 15;101(12):721–9.

9. Translating Emergency Knowledge for Kids (TREKK). Bottom Line Recommendations: Meningitis [Internet]. 2023 Sep [cited 2025 Apr 14]. Available from: https://trekk.ca/

10. Lewis M, MacPherson P. Altered Level of Consciousness [podcast]. PedsCases; 2010 Aug 4 [cited 2025 Apr 14]. Available from: https://www.pedscases.com/altered-level-consciousness

11. UpToDate. Stupor and coma in children [Internet]. Waltham (MA): UpToDate; [cited 2025 Apr 14]. Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/stupor- and-coma-in-children

12. Pinson & Tang. Big change for Glasgow Coma Scale codes for FY2021 [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 14]. Available from: https://www.pinsonandtang.com/resources/big-change-for-glasgow-coma-scal...codes-for-fy2021/

13. McKenzie KC, Hahn CD, Friedman JN; Canadian Paediatric Society, Acute Care Committee. Emergency management of the paediatric patient with convulsive status epilepticus. Paediatr Child Health. 2021;26(1):50–57. Available from: Canadian Paediatric Society website.

There are no conflicts of interest to disclose by the authors.