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Addison disease

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of chronic adrenal failure have a very gradual onset, so that the condition is difficult to appreciate. Lack of energy, malaise, or giddiness when standing up, are almost always present. There is usually an increase in skin pigmentation. Often, the development of an intercurrent illness decompensates the condition which suddenly deteriorates into circulatory collapse, hypoglycaemia and, if untreated, death.

View Background Background  |  What are the causes? View What are the causes?

Medical text written November 1991 by Contact a Family. Approved by Professor Michael Patton, Professor of Medical Genetics, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK and Dr J E Wraith, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK. Last updated September 2005 by Dr R Stanhope, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK.

 

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