Management of Childhood Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia-An Integrative Review of the Literature

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an endocrine condition that requires parents to administer steroids up to three times daily, supplementing maintenance doses with oral or injectable doses during times of illness. The purpose of this integrative review was to explore the management, care, and associated health issues for children with CAH and the family response to the condition. Four literature indexes were searched, with 39 articles included. Four themes emerged: (a) Health- and Development-Related Issues, (a) Effects of Excess Androgens, (c) Life Experience of CAH, and (d) Managing and Averting Adrenal Crisis. Families having a child with CAH face complex concerns related their child's growth, the fear of adrenal crisis events, and the consequences of atypical genitalia for affected girls. Future studies should focus on interventions that provide guidelines to increase parental preparedness in managing adrenal crises and creating support systems for affected girls.