Cortisol is a type of steroid hormone that occurs naturally within the body and is involved in metabolism regulation, stress response and immune defense. Children with abnormally low blood levels of cortisol can be diagnosed with a condition called Addison's disease or adrenal insufficiency. The symptoms of low cortisol levels in children can significantly impact a child's normal growth and development. A child who exhibits low cortisol symptoms should be seen by a pediatrician as soon as possible.
Skin Discoloration
Children with low cortisol levels can exhibit unusual skin discoloration as a symptom of this condition. Initially, the skin of a child's hands or face may appear darker than usual--a symptom called hyperpigmentation. This skin discoloration can appear as black-colored freckles across the affected skin region. Children can also develop bluish-black patches of skin around the groin, genital region, nipples or mouth, explain medical experts at Children's Hospital Boston.
Stomach Upset
Stomach upset symptoms can occur due to low levels of cortisol in a child's body. These stomach-related symptoms can include nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, reports the Merck Manual, an online medical encyclopedia for patients and caregivers. Children who develop these symptoms may not be hungry at meal time due to decreased appetite. Diarrhea can also contribute to abdominal cramping or bloating in affected children. Due to these symptoms, children with low cortisol levels can experience weight loss as a result of this condition.
Fatigue
Low cortisol levels can cause chronic fatigue, warns the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. A parent or caregiver may notice that a child with low levels of cortisol takes frequent naps throughout the day or has difficulty concentrating while completing schoolwork. Increased fatigue can also contribute to irritability or depression, which can cause a child to appear unusually fussy or cranky.
Dehydration and Low Blood Sugar
Children who experience loss of appetite due to low cortisol levels may not consume adequate amounts of food or fluid to maintain the energy needs of the body. As a result, children with this condition are at risk of developing dehydration and low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, explains the Better Health Channel, a medical information website supported by the Australian government. Dehydration occurs when the body loses excess amounts of fluid that are not efficiently replenished. Symptoms of dehydration and hypoglycemia can include dizziness, headache, extreme hunger or thirst, fatigue or irritability. These symptoms of low cortisol levels in children can be serious and affected children should receive further evaluation and care from a physician.
Salty Food Cravings
Children with low cortisol levels lose unusually high levels of salt from their body through sweating. As a result, children with this condition may experience intense cravings for salty foods such as potato chips, pretzels or popcorn, explains the National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service. Increased salt consumption should be paired with increased fluid intake, as high levels of salt in the body can increase a child's risk of dehydration.
