Impaired recovery of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and hypoglycemic seizures after high-dose inhaled corticosteroid therapy in a toddler.

Background: Corticosteroids are the treatment of choice for children with persistent reactive airway disease. In these patients, taper and discontinuation of systemic therapy is often facilitated by transition to high-dose inhaled corticosteroid treatment.

Objective: To report a case of impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis recovery and adrenal crisis associated with prolonged high-dose inhaled therapy after long-term systemic corticosteroid treatment.