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Signs and Symptoms of Still's Disease

Still's disease is another term for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the most common type of arthritis found in children. The disease occurs when the body's immune system attacks the joints or other tissues, causing a variety of symptoms.

  1. Types of Symptoms

    • Symptoms of Still's disease include joint stiffness and pain, limited movement, warmth or swelling of the joints, limping, back pain, high fevers, skin rashes and swollen lymph nodes. Some patients with Still's disease also develop uveitis or inflammation of the eye, causing redness, eye pain, pain when looking at light and vision changes.

    Time Frame

    • Symptoms of Still's disease are most likely to begin before a child reaches 16 years of age, reports the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

    Types

    • Polyarticular Still's disease causes symptoms in many different areas, including the arms, legs, jaw and spine, while pauciarticular Still's disease occurs only in a few joints such as the hips, knees or ankles. Systemic Still's disease is the type most likely to cause rashes and fevers.

    Signs

    • A physical examination by a doctor often reveals swelling of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes in children who have Still's disease. Blood tests sometimes reveal an increased rheumatoid factor or an elevated antinuclear antibody panel.

    Considerations

    • The symptoms of Still's disease mimic other conditions as well, including Lyme disease, rheumatic fever, bone infections or sarcoidosis, cautions the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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