Consciousness is the individual's ability to have perception of themselves and the surrounding environment. Level of consciousness (LOC) can be lowered when the brain has hypoxia, metabolic disorders, exposure to drugs or toxins, increases in intracranial pressure, traumatic brain injury, stroke and intracranial hemorrhage. Infections of the central nervous system, neoplasms can also affect consciousness. A Disturbed Level of Conscious (DLC) can also result from a combination of factors.

In recent years, the use of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), statements, and best practice have been promulgated for a number of diseases by a variety of medical societies and Health care organizations. Several recent publications suggest that underutilization of DLC guidelines may be a part related to a lack of understanding appears to span the spectrum of physicians working in health maintenance organization.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) guideline highlighted the inadequacies that existed in the services, care and treatment for children with DLC, and made great progress in addressing relevant important issues ‐misdiagnosis, inappropriate or inadequate treatment, sudden unexpected death that might have been prevented. Children with DLC remain at the center of this guideline, and the need for services to consider the needs of each individual, to not discriminate in provision and to work in partnership with children with DLC and their carers is underlined.