ABSTRACT
This is an endocrine emergency, due to failure of the adrenal cortex to secrete sufficient glucocorticoid (cortisol) and/or mineralocorticoid (aldosterone). There are three main situations that present in paediatrics:
congenital adrenal hyperplasia in the neonatal period;
Addison’s disease or adrenal atrophy in childhood;
cessation of long-term steroid treatment or sudden stress (e.g. surgery in a child being treated with long-term steroids).
