Endocrine emergencies

Abstract

• This chapter is intended to be brief, providing readily accessible information required in an endocrine emergency in an infant, child, or adolescent. • Endocrine emergencies are rare but because of this they are usually unexpected. • Always take a few moments to assess the situation. • Getting the clinical signs and obtaining the right biochemical samples at the time is often the key to getting the correct diagnosis and management. • The theory and background about each problem are dealt with in the relevant chapter. • The key endocrine emergencies are: • diabetic ketoacidosis • hypoglycaemia • adrenal insufficiency • hypocalcaemia • hypercalcaemia • acute diabetes insipidus • syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion • hyperthyroid crisis • hypothyroid coma • unclear sex (ambiguous genitalia—disorders of sex development).