Treatment consists of replacement of hormone with synthetic thyroxine. Affected infants develop normally with proper treatment. If untreated, CAH can lead to an imbalance in the body's concentration of salts which in turn can rapidly lead to shock and death. CAH also causes excessive masculinization and extremely premature sexual maturation. Treatment consists of providing cortisol which normalizes hormone production.
Proper treatment prevents death and stops the masculinization process.
Affected females may require surgical correction of masculinized genitalia. The altered shape results in anemia due to shortened life span of the blood cells and impedes circulation, especially in capillaries. Children with sickle cell disease are highly susceptible to bacterial infections that can rapidly lead to overwhelming sepsis and death. Treatment consists of regular doses of penicillin to prevent infection and training parents to recognize splenic crisis. Proper treatment dramatically reduces infections and death.