Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Okay kiddo, let me explain to you what is congenital adrenal hyperplasia or CAH in a way that you can understand.
Do you know that our bodies have tiny organs called glands that make special juices called hormones? These hormones help our body grow, work and do all sorts of important things. One of these glands is called the adrenal gland and it makes a special hormone called cortisol that helps our body deal with stress, fight infections and control our blood sugar levels.
Sometimes, when a baby stops growing in the mommy's tummy, the adrenal gland may grow too much even before the baby is born. This means that the baby will have too much cortisol and another hormone called androgen. When a girl baby has too much of androgen, her body may not develop as it should and she may look like a boy. This is because androgen helps to make boys grow into boys and girls grow into girls.
This is what we call congenital adrenal hyperplasia or CAH. It is a condition where the adrenal gland makes too much of these hormones and can cause children to be sick. Sometimes this condition is passed down from the parents, but sometimes it can just happen by chance.
If a baby is born with CAH, they may need to take medicine every day to help their body work properly. Doctors can give them special pills that contain a hormone called hydrocortisone, which does the same job as cortisol. With the right treatment and medicine, children with CAH can grow, play and enjoy life just like everyone else.
Do you know that our bodies have tiny organs called glands that make special juices called hormones? These hormones help our body grow, work and do all sorts of important things. One of these glands is called the adrenal gland and it makes a special hormone called cortisol that helps our body deal with stress, fight infections and control our blood sugar levels.
Sometimes, when a baby stops growing in the mommy's tummy, the adrenal gland may grow too much even before the baby is born. This means that the baby will have too much cortisol and another hormone called androgen. When a girl baby has too much of androgen, her body may not develop as it should and she may look like a boy. This is because androgen helps to make boys grow into boys and girls grow into girls.
This is what we call congenital adrenal hyperplasia or CAH. It is a condition where the adrenal gland makes too much of these hormones and can cause children to be sick. Sometimes this condition is passed down from the parents, but sometimes it can just happen by chance.
If a baby is born with CAH, they may need to take medicine every day to help their body work properly. Doctors can give them special pills that contain a hormone called hydrocortisone, which does the same job as cortisol. With the right treatment and medicine, children with CAH can grow, play and enjoy life just like everyone else.
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