A rare disorder in which there is a lack of steroid hormone production by the adrenal glands.
Usual causes are:
- Damage caused by the body’s own immune system
- Specific infections
Symptoms are nonspecific:
- Pain in the abdomen
- Weakness
May develop into Addisonian crisis, a severe condition manifesting as:
- Very low blood pressure & coma – caused when the body is placed in a stressful situation i.e. accident, injury, surgery, severe infection or illness
- Patient death may follow quickly
Other names: chronic adrenal insufficiency, hypocortisolism, and hypoadrenalism