This PedsCases note provides a one-page overview on adrenal crisis, including its clinical presentation, common etioligies and management. It was created by Surina Grover, a medical student at the University of Alberta with the help of Dr. Elizabeth Rosolowsky, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Alberta. 

Click the image below for a full-page handout.

Related Content:

Podcast: Approach to Adrenal Insufficiency

Podcast: Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

References

1. Kim MS., & Hoppin AG. (2023). Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency in Children. UpToDate. Retrieved April 03, 2023 from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-adrenal-insufficiency-in-children.

2. Kim MS., & Hoppin AG. (2022). Treatment of Adrenal Insufficiency in Children. UpToDate. Retrieved April 03, 2023 from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/treatment-of-adrenal-insufficiency-in-children.

3. Kim MS., & Hoppin AG. (2022). Causes of Primary Adrenal Insufficiency in Children. UpToDate. Retrieved April 03, 2023 from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/causes-of-primary-adrenal-insufficiency-in-children.

4. Emily Walvoord. (2020). Child with Suspected Adrenal Insufficiency. Pediatric Endocrine Society. Retrieved July 03, 2023 from https://pedsendo.org/clinical-resource/child-with-suspected-adrenal-insufficiency/.

5. Ahmet, A., Gupta, A., Malcolm, J., & Constantacos, C. (2023). Approach to the Patient: Preventing Adrenal Crisis Through Patient and Clinician Education. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 108(7), 1797–1805. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgad003.

6. Ahmet, A., Rowan-Legg, A., Pancer, L.; Canadian Paediatric Society, Canadian Pediatric Endocrine Group, Community Paediatrics Committee. "Title of the Article." Paediatr Child Health, vol. 26, no. 4, 2021, pp. 242–247.

7. Rushworth, R. Louise, Torpy, David J., Stratakis, Constantine A., Falhammar, Henrik. "Adrenal Crises in Children: Perspectives and Research Directions." Horm Res Paediatr, vol. 89, no. 5, 4 July 2018, pp. 341–351.

8. Kirkgoz T, Guran T. Primary adrenal insufficiency in children: Diagnosis and management. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;32(4):397-424. doi:10.1016/j.beem.2018.05.010