Novel insights into adrenal insufficiency in childhood

Y. Levy-Shraga*, O. Pinhas-Hamiel

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is a rare disease in childhood and adolescence that results from disruption in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Pediatricians should be familiar with this entity since acute adrenal crisis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment. In the early stages of AI, the clinical manifestations may be subtle and non-specific; thus, they are frequently unrecognized. The main therapeutic approach in all forms of adrenal insufficiency is glucocorticoid replacement; the dose should be titrated appropriately to avoid under or overtreatment. Patient and family education is particularly important, to enable adjustment of dosage replacement therapy during stress and to prevent crisis. This article summarizes the current knowledge of AI and provides new insights on its management in children.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)517-532
Number of pages16
JournalMinerva Pediatrica
Volume66
Issue number6
StatePublished - Dec 2014

Keywords

  • Adrenal insufficiency
  • Child
  • Critical illness

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