What APGAR score reflects absent reflex irritability in a neonate?

An APGAR score reflects the physical condition of a newborn shortly after birth, evaluating five criteria: Appearance (skin color), Pulse (heart rate), Grimace response (reflex irritability), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration (breathing effort). Each of these criteria can score between 0 to 2 points, with a higher score indicating better overall health.

In the case of reflex irritability specifically, a score of 0 indicates that the neonate has no grimace response upon stimulation, which means there is absent reflex irritability. This suggests a lack of neurological responsiveness and could imply potential issues that may require further evaluation and intervention.

While a score of 1 point would indicate a weak grimace or grimace in response to stimulation, and a score of 2 points would signify a strong reflexive response, the absence of any response necessitates a score of 0. Thus, a neonate with absent reflex irritability is accurately represented by this score.