A 10-year-old boy from northern Vietnam was diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency after he used too much nasal spray that contains corticosteroids.

N.T.H., 10, from Bac Giang Province, was recently admitted to Bai Chay Hospital in neighboring Quang Ninh Province with symptoms such as Cushing's syndrome, excessive hair growth on limbs, and a low cortisol level.

H. was then diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency due to the excessive use of corticosteroids and acute rhinosinusitis.

The boy’s family said he had been using nasal sprays with corticosteroids continuously for about a year.

Long-term use of corticosteroids without a doctor's instructions is one of the main causes of adrenal insufficiency in children, said Dr. Nguyen Thi Son, deputy head of the department of pediatrics at Bai Chay Hospital.

Adrenal insufficiency is a disorder that occurs when the adrenal glands are unable to make enough of certain hormones, including cortisol.

Corticosteroids, if used in moderate doses for a certain period of time, can effectively treat some dangerous diseases such as bronchial asthma, anaphylaxis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis, according to Dr. Son.

However, long-term and high-dose corticosteroid use can lead to a high risk of adrenal insufficiency, which slows the child's growth and affects the endocrine system, the doctor continued.

Corticosteroids are a type of drug with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and immunosuppressive effects, she said, adding that they can be easily purchased at local pharmacies.

Parents letting their children use corticosteroids without a doctor's instructions can result in many potential health risks, Son warned.

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