Developed by the Paediatric Adrenal Insufficiency Group On Behalf of the British Society of Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes
Adrenal insufficiency (AI) is characterised by lack of cortisol production from the adrenal glands. This can be a primary adrenal disorder or secondary to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency or suppression from exogenous glucocorticoids. Symptoms of AI in children may initially be non-specific and include growth faltering, lethargy, poor feeding, abdominal pains, vomiting and lingering illnesses. AI is treated with replacement doses of hydrocortisone. At times of physiological stress such as illness, trauma or surgery there is an increased requirement for exogenous glucocorticoids, which if untreated can lead to an adrenal crisis and death.
This national project sets out standardised guidance to manage children and young people with AI or adrenal crisis during intercurrent illness, as well as recommendations for medical, dental and surgical procedures.
This page has specifically been designed to be the link to share the guidelines and will not change should updates to the guideline occur. Therefore the URL for this page should be used at your local website to link to the guidelines. The links below to the actual documents should not be used as these could be subject to change.
Each patient should be considered as an individual in the context of their condition and other medication and therefore the readers' discretion is required in the application of their use of these guidelines and standards. Every effort has been made to ensure the factual accuracy of the contents but no liability can be accepted for any litigation, claims or complaints arising from the use of the guidelines and standards.