Still's Disease
(Systemic-Onset Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis)

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Still's disease facts

  • Still's disease presents with a high spiking fever.
  • Still's disease is commonly associated with a rash without itching.
  • Still's disease always causes joint inflammation (arthritis).
  • The cause of Still's disease is not known.
  • Still's disease can be associated with inflammation of internal organs.
  • Still's disease is diagnosed by the characteristic clinical features. These features include high intermittent fever, joint inflammation and pain, muscle pain, faint salmon-colored skin rash, swelling of the lymph glands or enlargement of the spleen and liver, and inflammation of the lungs (pleuritis) or around the heart (pericarditis).
  • Classic blood tests for rheumatic diseases are negative.
  • Treatment is directed toward the individual areas of inflammation.

What is Still's disease?

Still's disease, a disorder featuring inflammation, is characterized by high spiking fevers, salmon-colored rash that comes and goes (evanescent), and arthritis. Still's disease was first described in children, but it is now known to occur, much less commonly, in adults (in whom it is referred to as adult-onset Still's disease).

What causes Still's disease?

There have been a number of schools of thought regarding the cause(s) of Still's disease. One concept is that Still's disease is due to infection with a microbe. Another idea is that Still's disease is a hypersensitive or autoimmune disorder. In fact, the cause of Still's disease is not yet known. Therefore, prevention of Still's disease is not possible at this time.

Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR on 11/4/2011


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