Final answer:
The Apgar score assesses a newborn's health across five traits with 0 being the worst score per indicator and 2 the best. The total score ranges from 0 (worst) to 10 (best), with 7 or above regarded as normal and anything below 7 potentially indicating distress.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Apgar scoring, a newborn infant's health is evaluated at one minute and five minutes after birth using five easy-to-measure traits. For each trait, the newborn receives a score of 0, 1, or 2, with 0 being the worst and 2 being the best. The traits rated include appearance (skin color), pulse (heart rate), grimace (reflex), activity (muscle tone), and respiration. The lowest possible score per indicator is 0, the highest is 2. The combined scores for all five traits yield the total Apgar score, which ranges from 0 to 10. The highest (best) possible score is 10, with scores of 7 or higher considered normal. Scores of 4-6 suggest mild distress, and 3 or lower indicate a critical condition requiring immediate medical attention. The Apgar test is a quick, painless assessment carried out by healthcare professionals to determine whether the newborn needs immediate medical care.