Adult Onset Still's Disease

National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Adult Onset Still's Disease is not the name you expected.

Disorder Subdivisions

  • None

General Discussion

Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare inflammatory disorder that affects the entire body (systemic disease). The cause of the disorder is unknown (idiopathic). Affected individuals may develop episodes of high, spiking fevers, a pink or salmon colored rash, joint pain, muscle pain, a sore throat and other symptoms associated with systemic inflammatory disease. The specific symptoms and frequency of episodes vary from one person to another and the progression of the disorder is difficult to predict. In some individuals, the disorder appears suddenly, disappears almost as quickly and may not return. In other people, adult onset Still's disease is a chronic, potentially disabling, condition. Various medications are used to treat individuals with adult onset Still's disease, affected individuals may respond to therapy differently. Adult onset Still's disease does not appear to run in families.

Adult onset Still's disease is the adult form of systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (juvenile Still's disease). The disorders are name after a British physician who first described systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in the medical literature in 1896. The term "adult Still's disease" was first used in the medial literature in 1971, but cases that fit the description of the disorder appear in the medical literature as early as the late 1800s.

Supporting Organizations

Arthritis Foundation

1330 West Peachtree Street, Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30309
USA
Tel: (404)872-7100
Tel: (800)283-7800
Email: arthritisfoundation@arthritis.org
Website: http://www.arthritis.org

Arthritis Society

393 University Avenue
Suite 1700
Ontario, M5G IE6
Canada
Tel: 4169797228
Fax: 4169798366
Tel: 8003211433
Email: info@arthritis.ca
Website: http://www.arthritis.ca

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
Website: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/

NIH/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Information Clearinghouse
One AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
USA
Tel: (301)495-4484
Fax: (301)718-6366
Tel: (877)226-4267
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.niams.nih.gov/

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). For a full-text version of this report, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

Last Updated:  5/15/2015
Copyright  2015 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.