Adrenal Crisis Of A Pediatric Patient : A Case Review Essay

Cortisol plays a major role in the development of this disorder. It is secreted by the adrenal gland, located above the kidneys, in a precise sequence of events. The hypothalamus directs corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH) to the pituitary gland.1 CRH causes the pituitary to release adrenocorticotropin hormone(ACTH) activate the adrenal glands.1 The adrenal glands pick up the ACTH, they reciprocate by releasing cortisol in the bloodstream.1 Cortisol helps with quite a few of your body functions. Some of these functions are stress response, balancing the effects of insulin, reducing the immune system’s inflammatory response, regulating

According to http://www.webmd.com/, “the adrenal glands don't make enough of a hormone called cortisol, or less often, a related hormone called aldosterone.” That's why doctors sometimes call the illness ''chronic adrenal insufficiency,'' or hypocortisolism. “most important function is to help the body respond to stress. It also helps regulate your body's use of protein, carbohydrates, and fat; helps maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function; and controls inflammation.” Aldosterone helps your kidneys regulate the amount of salt and water in your body -- the main way you regulate blood volume and keep your blood pressure under control. When aldosterone levels drop too low, your kidneys cannot keep your salt and water levels in balance. This makes your blood pressure drop. “There are two forms of Addison's disease. If the problem is with the adrenal glands themselves, it's called primary adrenal insufficiency. If the adrenal glands are affected by a problem starting somewhere else -- such as the pituitary gland -- it's called secondary adrenal

     Addison’s disease is a disorder of the endocrine system. It is a hormonal disorder that can strike anyone, any gender at any age. Addison’s disease has also been called Adrenal Insufficiency (hypocortisolism) because the root of the disease is in the adrenal gland not producing enough of the hormone cortisol, or sometimes not enough of the hormone aldosterone to satisfy the body’s needs.

Another diagnostic method to diagnose adrenal tumors is cortisol saliva testing. In this test, the amount of cortisol in the saliva at or near midnight is normally very low. Multiple repeats of the test to confirm elevated cortisol levels can diagnose Cushing's syndrome. Cushing's syndrome is excess cortisol levels, possibly due to the body secreting too much

It is important to distinguish between Cushing disease and Cushing syndrome. While both are based on high levels of cortisol circulating in the body, Cushing disease is specifically caused by a generally benign tumor of the pituitary gland which secretes excess levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), leading to overproduction of cortisol in the adrenal glands. Cushing syndrome, on the other hand, refers to the symptoms caused by elevated levels of cortisol in the body due to any cause, and is also called hypercortisolism or hyperadrenocorticism. In addition to the Cushing disease promoting pituitary tumor, a number of additional circumstances may lead to the development of Cushing Syndrome. Elevated levels of cortisol often are a result of a prolonged use of corticosteroids, which may be prescribed for the treatment of allergies, asthma, or autoimmune diseases. However, elevated cortisol levels may also occur with cancerous or benign tumors of the ACTH-producing lungs, pancreas, or thyroid stimulating an excess production of cortisol. Cushing syndrome is fairly rare, affecting 10 -15

themselves are malfunctioning that is called primary adrenal insufficiency. Another reason that cortisol production is lacking might be because not enough ACTH is being generated by the pituitary gland. The second order effect of inadequate levels of ACTH being secreted results in cortisol not being produced. When this is the case it is called secondary adrenal insufficiency (MedlinePlus, 2011).

The adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, are where natural hormones and steroids that the body uses are secreted and regulated. These hormones and steroids come from either the adrenal cortex, or the adrenal medulla. Hormones from the cortex start at the pituitary gland where ACTH or adrenocorticotrophic hormone is secreted. “ The adrenal cortex secretes hormones known as corticosteroids, or cortical steroids.”( Rather, Spencer) There are three zones of the adrenal cortex, the zona glomerulosa, fasciulata, and reticularis. Each of these zones produce specific steroid hormones. Two main types of steroids among many others are Cortisol and Aldosterone. Cortisol is referred to as the stress hormone as it is involved in the response to stress and anxiety. Aldosterone increases reabsorption and retention of sodium and water in the kidneys. This process involves secretion of potassium and is stimulated by low blood sodium, this increases blood volume and

Primary Adrenal insufficiency (PAI) or Addison’s Disease, as it is more commonly known as, is defined as an insufficient production of glucocorticoids (cortisol). Cortisol is a regulatory hormone which is secreted and synthesised by the adrenal cortex of the adrenal glands (1).

A person should visit their doctor for the diagnosis of this disease if they have severe fatigue, muscle or joint pains, salt cravings, unintentional weight loss, and gastrointestinal problems, such as vomiting and abdominal pain and nausea.

This may have been useful when you were out hunting and about to encounter danger because cortisol can give you a quick burst of energy for survival, increased immunity, and enhanced memory function. However, in our environment now, having high chronic levels of cortisol in your body can lead to many negative side effects. Since glucocorticoids stimulate the liver to convert amino acids to glucose, this leads to a rise in blood glucose concentration and can reduce the sensitivity of target tissues to insulin (p. 341).

Cushing’s is a disease in which you have an abnormally elevated level of cortisol. There are two major types of Cushing’s. The first type of Cushing’s is rare and is called “Cushing’s Disease”, it’s cause by an endogenous factor, which means that something goes wrong inside your body. This type is usually characterized by the body’s own overproduction of ACTH, Which controls Cortisol. Other internal factors that may cause Cushing’s Disease is a pituitary gland tumor (can be benign or cancerous and is the most common), an ectopic tumor that secretes ACTH, an adrenal adenoma (benign) and adrenal carcinomas (cancerous). In very few rare cases people can inherit a predisposition to developing endocrine tumors (Toft 2016). The second type of Cushing’s

The patient presented with weight gain, flushed skin, tiredness, inability to concentrate, hirsutism, depression and facial swelling; which all indicate that the patient might be suffering from Cushings Syndrome.

70% of the patients that are diagnosed with Addison’s suffer from an autoimmune disease like HIV (Renz, 2012). Very rarely will it be a genetic mutation they are born with but it does happen. Another cause is malignancy. Tumors metastasize from another organ and start disrupting the hormone flow of the adrenal glands, like lymphoma (Renz, 2012). Another cause is long lasting infections like tuberculosis (Lovas & Husebye, 2005). This is how Addison’s disease was originally diagnosed. Over time, tuberculosis evolves and starts causing a hormone mix-up. On occasion, Addison’s may be caused by trauma. This is the case when it comes to the author’s father. The pituitary gland can be damaged based on the high mechanism of injury to the brain. The pituitary controls all the glands in the human body including the adrenal glands. To put it all in perspective, Addison’s disease basically creates an all-out warfare between your anti-bodies and your adrenal

Cushing’s Syndrome is a condition that results from chronic exposure to excessive amounts of glucocorticoids circulating in the blood stream for an extended period of time. The disease was first reported by Harvey Cushing over one hundred years ago, yet the condition still plagues endocrinologists today. Reasons for this difficulty include the vast amount of often vague symptoms that the syndrome presents, most of which are found in a plethora of other conditions as well, combined with the multiple forms that the condition can manifest itself. Symptoms of Cushings Syndrome include, but are not limited to, weight gain, hirutism, easy bruising, hypertension, acne, facial plethora, muscle weakness, striae, depression,

Hypothalamus is taking control of both adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. When the stress occurred, either emotional or physical trauma, prompts the hypothalamus to stimulate a part of the adrenal glands. The medulla and cortex secretes different hormones.