Addison’s disease is an extremely rare disease that can affect anyone regardless of sex or age; “The rate of this rare disease occurs in about eight cases out of 1 million people” (Little, 2007). Addison’s disease is also known as adrenocortical hypofunction and part of a condition called hypoadrenalism. In other words it is a chronic adrenocortical insufficiency or under activity of the adrenal glands. This condition is most commonly autoimmune but can be caused by other factors such as a fungal infection, tuberculosis, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and malignancy. The body has two adrenal glands that are located on the kidney. The inner portion is called the medulla and the outer part of the gland, called the cortex. What is damaged is the cortex. The damaged cortex does not supply the body with a sufficient amount of cortisol. Cortisol is one of the many hormones that the body produces but it is essential for the life of the body. “Cortisol is responsible for the regulation of the body’s organs and tissue functions.” (Little, 2007) An autoimmune disease or disorder is a condition in which the body’s immune system creates defense cells known as antibodies that start attacking not just the harmful invaders but the normal healthy cells as well. For this type of disease, the adrenal cortex is attacked by the body’s immune system and is slowing being broken down. The breaking down of the adrenal gland results in the body not having the proper amount of the cortisol hormone that it needs. “An autoimmune cause of Addison’s disease counts for about 70% of the cases, with 20% being from tuberculosis, and the last 10% being from fungal infections.” (Little, 2007) As stated earlier Addison’s disease comes on very slowly, so signs and symptoms are clues that the adrenal cortex has already been damaged. and symptoms of Addison’s disease will include weakness, fatigue, weight loss, hypotension, gastrointestinal