Addison's disease in infancy.

Addison's disease may occur in infants with the adrenogenital syndrome, the adrenals being structurally intact and larger than norml. However, Addison's disease comparable with that occurring in adults also occurs in infants whose adrenal glands are hypoplastic or diseased. These infants fail to gain weight and are in a poor state of hydration despite a theoretically adequate caloric and fluid intake. They also have weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting and skin pigmentation as features of their illness. Death may be sudden following circulatory failure in a typical 'Addisonian crisis' if the condition is not recognized and treatment instituted. We have been able to find in the English literature records of only nine infants with Addison's disease due to adrenal hypoplasia or adrenal destruction. This paper summ the literature, and records four additional cases. Three of these infants died suddenly, the terminal illness in each case suggesting acute adrenal insufficiency. The fourth is at present under treatment and progressing satisfactorily.