title: Early intervention and management of adrenal insufficiency in children.
abstract: The endocrine disorder adrenal insufficiency includes inadequate production of the steroid hormone cortisol. This results in poor physiological responses to illness, trauma or other stressors and risk of adrenal crisis. Management is based on administration of hydrocortisone. It is important to avoid under- or over-treatment and increase the dosage during times of physiological stress. To reduce morbidity, hospital admissions and mortality, the education and empowerment of parents and carers, and prompt intervention when necessary are essential. A steroid therapy card for adrenal insufficiency containing personal information on a patient's condition was developed for use by families and their specialist centres.
authors.affiliation: Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. sinead.moloney@cuh.ie
authors.forename: Sinéad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moloney
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowling
mesh_terms: D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011209:Power, Psychological
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone