If you have an adrenal crisis, get help right away.

These people may already be in an adrenal crisis when they see a doctor.

If you have an adrenal crisis, you will need treatment in a hospital.

Untreated, adrenal crisis can lead to death within 1 - 6 weeks after birth.

If an adrenal crisis is not treated, you may die from shock caused by a serious drop in blood pressure.

Acute adrenal crisis is a medical emergency caused by a lack of cortisol.

An adrenal crisis means that your body can't make enough cortisol to cope with the stress.

For immediate treatment, hydrocortisone, salt water, and sugar can help in the adrenal crisis.

People who have Addison's disease should be taught to recognize signs of potential stress that may cause an acute adrenal crisis.

If Addison's disease is not treated, an adrenal crisis may occur that can lead to death because of a severe drop in blood pressure.

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if symptoms of acute adrenal crisis develop.

What happens during an adrenal crisis?

If you have symptoms of adrenal crisis, give yourself an emergency injection of your prescribed medication.

An adrenal crisis is caused by a stressful event, such as a severe infection, trauma, surgery, or dehydration.

Because symptoms develop slowly, they often are not obvious until an adrenal crisis (Addisonian crisis) occurs.

Correcting a low level of thyroid hormone can lead to low cortisol levels and an adrenal crisis.

Risk factors for adrenal crisis include:

Adrenal crisis, including hyponatremia and shock (especially in newborns)

An adrenal crisis often occurs if the body is subjected to stress, such as an accident, injury, surgery, or severe infection; death may quickly follow.

Treatment should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed, or sooner if the patient presents in apparent adrenal crisis.

Symptoms of an adrenal crisis include:

If you have symptoms of adrenal crisis, take your emergency medicine (such as dexamethasone) as directed and seek medical help immediately.

If the person is in adrenal crisis, the ACTH stimulation test may be given.

During an extreme form of adrenal insufficiency, adrenal crisis, you must inject hydrocortisone immediately.

In adrenal crisis, patients need an immediate injection of hydrocortisone through a vein (intravenous) or muscle (intramuscular).