Overview
Adult Still disease, also called adult-onset Still disease (ASOD), is a rare condition. It can involve inflammatory arthritis, but it may affect other parts of the body too. Common symptoms are fever, rash and joint pain. The condition may happen in some people only once. Then it goes away and doesn't come back. In other people, Still disease doesn't go away, or it goes away but then comes back.
Adult Still disease can injure joints, especially the wrists and knees. Treatment includes medicine to ease pain and help control the disease. A corticosteroid medicine such as prednisone often is used if pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) are not enough.
Symptoms
Most people with adult Still disease have more than one of the following symptoms:
- Sore throat. This often is one of the first and most common symptoms of adult Still disease.
- Fever. Fever is typically high, rising above 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius). The fever often spikes once or twice a day for a week or longer.
- Rash. A rash might come and go with the fever. The rash usually shows up on the back, chest, belly, arms or legs.
- Painful joints. Joints may become achy, stiff and swollen, especially the wrists and knees. Ankles, elbows, hands, feet and shoulders also might ache. Joint pain often lasts at least two weeks.
- Muscle pain. Pain in the muscles typically comes and goes with the fever. Muscle pain sometimes may be so bad that it's hard to do daily activities.
- Swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes in the neck, armpits and groin may be swollen and tender.
- Belly pain. Adult Still disease may cause the liver and spleen to get larger. That can lead to pain in the upper part of the belly area.
The specific symptoms of adult Still disease may not be the same for everyone. The symptoms also can look like those of other conditions, including lupus and a type of cancer called lymphoma.
When to see a doctor
If you have a high fever, a rash that keeps coming back and swollen, painful joints, make an appointment to see a healthcare professional. If you have been diagnosed with adult Still disease and have a cough, breathing issues, chest pain or any new symptoms, contact your healthcare professional.
Causes
The cause of adult Still disease is not known. Some researchers think it might be triggered by a viral or bacterial infection.
Risk factors
Age is the main risk factor for adult Still disease. It most often affects people between the ages of 15 and 25 and between the ages of 36 and 46.
Complications
Adult Still disease causes a type of swelling in the organs and joints called inflammation. Most health concerns that happen as a result of adult Still disease, called complications, are caused by the inflammation.
- Joint injury. The swelling and irritation that happens with adult Still disease can damage joints. The joints that are most often affected are the wrists and knees. Sometimes other joints, including those in the ankles, elbows, hands, feet and shoulders may be affected too.
- Swelling in and around the heart. Adult Still disease can cause swelling and inflammation of the saclike covering of the heart, called the pericardium. That condition is called pericarditis. The disease also can lead to inflammation in the muscle of the heart, called the myocardium. That condition is called myocarditis.
- Extra fluid around the lungs. Inflammation may cause fluid to build up around the lungs, a condition called pleural effusion. When this happens, it can be hard to take deep breaths.
- Injury to other organs. Adult Still disease can affect other organs, including the liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys and lymph nodes.
- Macrophage activation syndrome. This is a very rare but serious health condition that can be triggered by adult Still disease. It happens when the immune system goes into overdrive. It may harm organs such as the heart, liver, spleen and kidneys.