title: [Pediatric emergency: adrenal insufficiency and adrenal crisis].
abstract: Adrenal insufficiency is defined by impaired secretion of adrenocortical hormones. It is classified upon the etiology in primary and secondary. Rapid recognition and therapy of adrenocortical crisis are critical to survival. Patients often have nonspecific symptoms: anorexia, vomiting, weakness, fatigue and lethargy. They are followed by hypotension, shock, hypoglicemia, hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. All patients with adrenal insufficiency require urgent fluid reposition, correction of hypoglycemia and glucocorticoid replacement, in order to avoid serious consequences of adrenal crisis. After initial crisis treatment, maintenance dose of corticoids should be indicated. Mineralocorticoids replacement, if necessary, should also be initiated.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas, CONICET, Buenos Aires. amartinez@cedie.org.ar
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Titania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pasqualini
authors.forename: Mirta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stivel
authors.forename: Juan Jorge
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Heinrich
mesh_terms: D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index