Pediatric Endocrine Society Kenya

31/07/2025

Part 5: Wrapping Up Our Series on Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)
Let’s bring everything together, from what CAH is to how it’s diagnosed, treated, and managed ,so we can work toward building healthier futures for affected children.

🧬 What is CAH?

CAH is a genetic disorder affecting the adrenal glands, which leads to a deficiency of cortisol and/or aldosterone and an overproduction of androgens (male hormones). It’s usually caused by mutations in the 21-hydroxylase enzyme gene.

⚠️ How Does CAH Present?

Its presentation depends on the type and severity:
Classic CAH (Severe Form):
May present in newborns with:
* Ambiguous genitalia in females
* Vomiting, dehydration, and failure to thrive
* Salt-wasting crisis (life-threatening if untreated)
* Severe electrolyte imbalance

Non-Classic CAH (Milder Form):
🧒 May present later with:
* Early puberty
* Acne, excess hair growth (hirsutism)
* Irregular periods in adolescent girls
* Infertility in adults
* Often misdiagnosed or overlooked

🧪 Diagnosis
🩺 Confirmed with:
* Elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels
* Electrolyte imbalance
* ACTH stimulation test
* Genetic testing (if available)

Newborn screening (where available) can help in early detection and prompt treatment.

💊 What Treatments Are Life-Saving?
* Hydrocortisone: Replaces missing cortisol
* Fludrocortisone: Replaces aldosterone in salt-wasting types
* Salt supplementation in infants
* Regular monitoring and dose adjustments during stress, illness, or growth

For non-classic CAH, mild symptoms may be managed with low-dose glucocorticoids, and in some cases, no treatment may be needed—just observation and support.

❤️ Living a Healthy, Happy Life with CAH
Children with CAH can thrive when they receive:
* Timely diagnosis
* Consistent medication
* Regular endocrinology follow-ups
* Emotional and social support
* A stigma-free environment
* Equal access to education and opportunities

🎯 There is no cure yet, but with the right care, children with CAH can lead full, healthy lives.
Let’s continue to raise awareness, eliminate stigma, and advocate for early diagnosis and compassionate care.

Stay connected with PESK as we continue to simplify complex pediatric health topics one condition at a time.

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24/07/2025

🧬Part 4 of our Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) Series: Life Beyond the Diagnosis
A diagnosis of CAH can feel overwhelming for families but with the right care children with CAH can lead full, healthy and happy lives. 💪👧👦

✨ So, what does it take?
🩺 Lifelong hormone replacement therapy is essential.
Hydrocortisone and Fludrocortisone are life-saving medications that help replace deficient adrenal hormones and support normal growth and development.
These medications must be taken consistently, and dosages adjusted over time with the help of a pediatric endocrinologist.

📅 Regular clinic follow-ups are vital.
Monitoring growth, puberty, hormone levels, and stress-dose adjustments is critical, especially during illness or surgery.
Families need ongoing support and education to manage care confidently.

❤️ Beyond medicine, these children need acceptance.
No child should face stigma because of a medical condition.
Children with CAH have a right to education, opportunities, and dignity.
Schools, caregivers, and communities must be sensitized to support these children compassionately.

🚫 There is currently no way to prevent CAH.
Which is why early diagnosis, newborn screening (where available), and timely treatment are the best tools we have to prevent avoidable complications, disability, and even death.

Let’s build an informed, inclusive, and proactive society where no child is left behind due to a hormonal disorder.

🎥 Stay with PESK as we continue our mission to educate, support, and advocate for children’s endocrine health.

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18/07/2025

Moving to Part 3 of our Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) Series!*
Let’s now explore a critical aspect — *how CAH presents clinically* and the signs that should raise red flags early in life.

🧠 Early detection can be life-saving.
But what should you look for?

👶 In newborns, CAH may present with:

* Ambiguous genitalia (in females)
* Dehydration, vomiting, poor feeding
* Salt-wasting crisis (low sodium, high potassium)
* Failure to thrive

🧒 In older children, signs include:

* Early signs of puberty (precocious puberty)
* Rapid growth with advanced bone age
* Acne or excess hair growth (hirsutism)
* Menstrual irregularities in females

🧪 Key tests to confirm diagnosis:

* 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels
* Electrolyte panel, Bone Age Xray wrist
* ACTH stimulation test
* Genetic testing (when available)

🩺 *Early diagnosis and timely hormone replacement therapy* can significantly reduce both *morbidity and mortality* in affected children.

Let’s stay informed and vigilant.
💡 *Knowledge leads to early intervention, and early intervention saves lives.*

Stay tuned as we continue our series on pediatric hormonal disorders — only with PESK.

15/07/2025

Let’s dive deeper into Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) — a genetic disorder that affects the adrenal glands, leading to imbalances in vital hormones responsible for growth, development, and salt regulation. 🧬🩺

But what really causes CAH?
It stems from mutations in genes responsible for enzyme production — most commonly 21-hydroxylase — leading to reduced cortisol and aldosterone, and often excess androgen levels.

👶 Who is at risk?
Children born to parents who both carry the gene mutation are at higher risk, making it an inherited autosomal recessive condition.

💡 Which hormones are affected?
This post will help you understand how CAH disrupts the delicate hormonal trio: *cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens* — and what that means for a child’s health.

🎥 Stay with PESK as we continue to explore pediatric hormonal disorders, one reel at a time — because informed care starts with understanding.

15/07/2025

🧠💛 Understanding CAH: A PESK Awareness Series

Join us each week as we shine a light on Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) — a treatable condition that can be life-threatening if not detected early. Through awareness, we aim to reduce mortality, morbidity, and long-term complications.

🌍 From hospitals to homes, from Nairobi to Hastings and beyond — let’s empower families and health workers with the knowledge to act early.