Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)

The Adrenal glands are located anterior to the kidneys. There are two main sections of the gland; the inner gland or medulla, and the outer gland, or the cortex. The medulla is part of the sympathetic nervous system, and secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine. The cortex functions as an endogenous gland and secretes three main hormones: glucocorticoids, minerocorticoids and sex hormones. Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is a genetic disease of the adrenal cortex

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is an inherited condition resulting in underproduction of the hormones cortisol and aldosterone, and overproduction of androgen.

CAH is a serious condition because: