APGARScore

The Apgar score is a quick, standardized assessment of a newborn's health immediately after birth. Developed in 1953 by anesthesiologist Virginia Apgar, it is intended to gauge how well the infant is adapting to extrauterine life and to guide resuscitation decisions. The assessment is performed at 1 minute after birth and again at 5 minutes; if problems are evident, it may be repeated every 5 minutes for up to 20 minutes or longer in some cases.

The score summarizes five readily observable criteria: Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace response (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiratory effort. Each category is rated 0, 1, or 2, with total scores ranging from 0 to 10. Interpreting: 7–10 generally normal; 4–6 intermediate; 0–3 critically low, indicating need for resuscitation or intensive monitoring.

For each category, the 0–2 scale reflects specific findings: Appearance ranges from blue or pale to pink body with blue extremities, to completely pink; Pulse from absent to above 100 bpm; Grimace from no reaction to a feeble cry or sneeze to a vigorous cry; Activity from limp to some flexion to active motion; Respiratory effort from absent to slow or irregular to strong, regular breathing.

The Apgar score is a rapid, time-limited snapshot and is not intended as a long-term prognosis. It can be influenced by factors such as prematurity, maternal anesthesia, or cooling therapies. It is used in conjunction with other clinical information to guide immediate care, and scores typically rise as the infant stabilizes.