My understanding is that some believe that all with CAH are salt-wasters with a difference in severity (i.e. some need to be treated and others don’t).

As already stated in the other post’s, SW’s need to take an additional medication. And based on what I’ve picked up through reading post over the years, when a SW gets sick there are 2 things that the parent needs to react to -- the need for cortisol and the need for salts in the system. It also appears that when the SW’s have the vomitting/diarehia, then they will crash (for lack of a better word) quicker than the SV’s. (This is just my observation based on what I’ve read from other parents)

My daughter is not offically classified as a salt-waster (she has an 11-beta deficeincy and only 2% of 11-beta’s are SW). Her ped endo is however suprised that we have never had to treat her for SW (something I need to talk with the dr about). There are times when she craves salt and salty food (she will eat salt off her plate!). When she is sick I know she needs salt and will notice marked improvement once she gets it into her system. (Unfortunately with vomitting, that can mean a trip to the ER for IV fluids)

Best Regards,

Janet