Which of the following is a common cause of adrenal insufficiency?

Long-term administration of steroids is indeed a common cause of adrenal insufficiency. When corticosteroids are taken over an extended period, the body's natural production of these hormones can decrease due to feedback inhibition. The adrenal glands may become less responsive, leading to a condition known as secondary adrenal insufficiency. This occurs because the exogenous (externally administered) steroids suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is crucial for stimulating hormone release from the adrenal glands. If steroid therapy is suddenly discontinued, the body may not be able to produce sufficient cortisol, resulting in adrenal crisis and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency.

In contrast, while acute dehydration, severe infection, and chronic fatigue syndrome can cause various stress responses in the body, they are not the primary or most common causes of adrenal insufficiency compared to the effects of long-term steroid use. Acute dehydration can stress the body and prompt temporary changes in hormone levels, but it does not primarily lead to adrenal insufficiency. Severe infection may necessitate increased adrenal function, but it does not directly cause the adrenal gland to stop producing hormones. Chronic fatigue syndrome, while it presents with fatigue and other systemic symptoms, is primarily a syndrome of unexplained chronic fatigue and is not directly linked to