Still’s Disease Awareness Day Date in the current year: September 7, 2025

Still’s disease is characterized by fever, joint pain (arthritis), and a distinctive salmon-colored rash. There are two main forms: systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) and adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD). Individuals who experience symptoms before the age of 16 (typically within the first five years of life) are diagnosed with SJIA, while those who experience symptoms after the age of 16 are diagnosed with AOSD.

The classic triad of symptoms of Still’s disease includes high fevers, joint pain, and a salmon-colored rash that appears on the torso, arms, and legs. Fevers in patients with Still’s disease can reach 102-105 °F (39-41 °C) and then rapidly return to normal or below. Fever spikes usually occur in the evening or at night, though the timing can vary. The rash usually doesn’t itch or itches mildly and may fade quickly. However, some patients have reported an itchy, raised rash.

As for joint pain, joint problems don’t always develop right away with the rash and fever even though arthritis is one of the three main symptoms of Still’s disease. In about a quarter of patients, arthritis develops weeks, months, or even years after the initial onset.

Other possible symptoms include fatigue, muscle pain (myalgia) similar to flu symptoms, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, an enlarged liver and/or spleen, and problems with the lungs, heart, kidneys, or gastrointestinal system.

The severity of symptoms and prognosis vary from patient to patient. Up to 40% of children with SJIA recover completely, while over half experience a prolonged disease course. Some experience recurrent bouts of the disease interspersed with periods of remission. Adults with AOSD usually have either a relatively mild case, characterized mainly by arthritis, or a debilitating pattern of fevers and severe joint pain.

The cause of Still’s disease is unknown. It is not caused by infection, nor is it an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system does not produce antibodies that attack and cause inflammation of the body’s own tissues. A diagnosis of Still’s disease is usually made by exclusion, meaning that all other conditions with similar symptoms must first be ruled out.

Still’s disease is treated with anti-inflammatory medications. Mild cases in children or adults are usually treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), while more severe cases in adults may require steroids, such as prednisone. Patients who do not respond adequately or require long-term control are commonly prescribed disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Treatment is usually tailored to the severity of the disease, the organs involved, and how the patient responds. The goal is to control inflammation, prevent flares, and protect the joints and overall health.

Still’s Disease Awareness Day was launched by the International Still’s Disease Foundation (ISDF) in 2015. Two years later, the ISDF dissolved, and AiArthritis took over as the official host of the awareness day.