Treatment for Addison's disease may also include a sodium and potassium supplement. Typically, the child then takes these steroids for life. Treatment of Addison's disease often begins with medicating the child with additional corticosteroids, such as prednisone. If left untreated, Addison's disease can lead to severe stomach pain, low blood pressure, shock, and kidney failure especially during stressful times in a child's life. The most common symptoms of Addison's disease are a loss of appetite/weight loss, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and a craving for salt. Sometimes, Addison's disease is genetically inherited by an X chromosome-linked trait from the mother's DNA.Īddison's disease may only produce symptoms when a child is experiencing stress, or more severe cases may present symptoms more often. The use of corticosteroids can also slow down the processes of the adrenal glands, or the use of other medications. The cause of Addison's disease is mostly unknown, although portions of them are caused secondarily by damage to the adrenal glands through other diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disease, infections, or other diseases.

One in about 100,000 Americans is diagnosed with Addison's disease, with the onset being at any age.

Addison's DiseaseĪddison's disease is one adrenal gland disorder that results from an underactive adrenal gland. Because of this, adrenal gland disorders in children require clinical care by a doctor. When the adrenal glands are overstimulated, it may cause a child to overproduce androgens, leading to masculinization. This leads to the hypothalamus stimulating the pituitary gland, which then stimulates the adrenal glands. This results in an enlarged set of adrenal glands because the hypothalamus is overstimulated, leading it to detect low levels of hormones. This is often due to missing proteins in the body that cause or speed up chemical reactions called enzymes. When adrenal glands are not able to produce cortisol and aldosterone, both important hormones to a child's body, the child is then known to have an adrenal gland disorder. Adrenal glands also produce hormones that help children deal with physical and emotional stress. The glands work with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus, while also secreting hormones affecting the metabolism, body characteristics, and blood chemicals. This gland is made up of the adrenal cortex, which is the outer part, and the adrenal medulla, which is the inside of the gland. Atrium Health Navicent Children's Care Pediatric Endocrinology Adrenal Gland DiseaseĪdrenal glands are small, triangular glands that are located on the top of each kidney.

Overactive adrenaline