Child Still's Disease

Juvenile Stills Disease Definition

Juvenile Stills Disease Symptoms

Juvenile Still's Disease Causes

Juvenile Still's Disease Tests

Juvenile Still's Disease Treatment

Juvenile Still's Disease Definition

Juvenile Still's Disease - type of Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) that is a long-term problem causing joint pain and swelling that is common in children. Juvenile Still's Disease categories:

• Systemic - joint swelling or pain, fevers, and rash
• Polyarticular - involves many joints and can possibly develop into Reumatoid Arthritis
It may involve large and small joints of the legs and arms, as well as the TMJ and cervical spine.
• Pauciarticular - few affected joints, usually the hips, knees, or ankles

Juvenile Stills Disease Symptoms

Juvenile Still's Disease often has similar symptoms to other types of Arthritis like:

• Morning joint stiffness
• Joint pain
• Reduced range of motion
• Joint swelling and inflammation

Symptoms specific to Juvenile Still's Disease are prolonged fevers, rashes and swollen lymph nodes (glands). Other complications often include wearing away or destruction of joints, stunted growth, uneven legs or hands, swelling around the heart area, severe and debilitating pain or even possible loss of vision.

Juvenile Still's Disease Tests

The first test is often a physical exam by a physician. The doctor checks for swollen joints or joints with nerve damage or swelling. Often if the child experiences rashes or fever along with the bone pain, the doctor may suspect Juvenile Still's Disease and prescribe X-rays, MRI, other imaging tests or, blood tests or eye tests to check for accompanying symptoms.

Juvenile Still's Disease Treatment

Still's disease is an autoimmune disease and the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue.

Juvenile Still's Disease Treatment

The first treatment for many types of arthritis is usually rest, possible anti-inflammatory diet, and over-the-counter pain medication anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).Drugs called corticosteroids may be used for more severe flare-ups.

Children and teenagers who have arthritis in many joints, or complications like fever, rashes, or swollen glands may need additional medical help. such as possible antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that can decrease or prevent swelling. DMARDs include:

Young people affected by Still's disease must stay active and pay careful attention to getting enough Calcium and Vitamin D in their diets to keep their bones and muscles strong. Walking, bicycling, and swimming may be good activities.

If traditional non-invasive treatments for Juvenile Still's Disease do not help, joint-replacement surgery may be an option.

During a life-time, Stil's Disease is not life-threatening, but can often be debilitating. Some patients fully recover with little permanent bone loss or damage.