About Stills Disease
Key Highlights
-
Accurate Diagnosis: Expert clinical evaluation by a Rheumatologist is crucial for distinguishing AOSD from other conditions with similar symptoms.Personalized Treatment Plans: Management is tailored to disease severity, ranging from simple anti-inflammatories to advanced biologic therapies.Symptom Control: Effective treatment aims to rapidly control debilitating fevers, rash, and joint inflammation, improving quality of life.listrongPrevention of Complications:/strong Long-term management helps prevent serious complications like chronic arthritis, macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), or organ damage./lilistrongMultidisciplinary Approach:/strong Care often involves coordination with other specialists (e.g., for liver, heart, or lung involvement) for comprehensive management./li/ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Presentation of high, spiking fevers (often >39°C) once or twice daily that return to normal.
- Characteristic salmon-pink, non-itchy rash that often coincides with fever spikes.
- Severe joint pain (arthralgia) or swelling (arthritis), commonly affecting knees, wrists, and ankles.
- Sore throat, muscle pain, and significant fatigue.
- Laboratory findings of very high inflammatory markers, notably elevated ferritin and white blood cell count, with negative tests for autoantibodies like rheumatoid factor and ANA.
- Exclusion of infections (e.g., sepsis), malignancies (e.g., lymphoma), and other rheumatic diseases.
How to prepare
- Medical History Review: Prepare a detailed history of your fever patterns, rash, joint symptoms, and any previous treatments.
- Symptom Diary: Keeping a log of daily fever temperatures, rash appearance, and pain levels can be very helpful for diagnosis.
- Diagnostic Tests: Be prepared for extensive blood work to check inflammatory markers, liver function, and ferritin levels, and to rule out other conditions.
- Imaging: Your doctor may order X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI of affected joints to assess inflammation and damage.
- Consultation Readiness: The initial consultation will be thorough; be ready to discuss all symptoms in detail and provide past medical records.
Risks & possible complications
- Disease-Related Risks: Potential progression to chronic arthritis, life-threatening macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), or inflammation affecting the heart, lungs, or liver.
- Medication Side Effects: Long-term corticosteroid use can lead to weight gain, osteoporosis, diabetes, and increased infection risk. DMARDs and biologics carry risks of immunosuppression and specific organ toxicities.
- Diagnostic Uncertainty: As a diagnosis of exclusion, the process can be lengthy, and misdiagnosis is possible without a specialist.
- Flare-ups: The disease can have unpredictable flares even with treatment, requiring medication adjustments.
- Impact on Quality of Life: Chronic pain, fatigue, and the psychological burden of a rare disease can significantly affect daily living.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Acute Phase Management: Initial high-dose medications aim to quickly suppress inflammation and control symptoms; response is closely monitored.
- Medication Tapering: As symptoms improve, corticosteroids are carefully tapered to the lowest effective dose to minimize side effects.
- Long-Term Maintenance: Many patients require long-term maintenance therapy with DMARDs (like methotrexate) or biologics to prevent flares.
- Regular Monitoring: Frequent follow-ups with the Rheumatologist for blood tests and clinical assessments are essential to monitor disease activity and medication safety.
- Lifestyle & Support: Incorporating gentle exercise during remission, a balanced diet, and joining patient support groups can aid in overall well-being and coping.
-
Typical hospital stay: 3-7 days (for severe initial presentation or complications like MAS)
-
Expected recovery time: Months to years (chronic management required)
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering stills disease in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in India with rheumatology departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform stills disease. MediFyr helps you compare rheumatologists and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for stills disease compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | USD 544 – USD 3,263 | 3-7 days (for severe initial presentation or complications like MAS) | ~ Months to years (chronic management required) | Know More |
| Turkey | USD 4,026 – USD 24,158 | 3-7 days (for severe initial presentation or complications like MAS) | ~ Months to years (chronic management required) | Know More |
A 12-year-old girl from a rural...
A 12-year-old girl from a rural Tamil Nadu village presented with unexplained joint swelling and fatigue. Her agricultural laborer family had limited resources. Dr. Hema diagnosed juvenile idiopathic arthritis after comprehensive testing. Through a subsidized treatment program she helped arrange, the patient received biologic therapy. Within 6 months, she returned to school with minimal symptoms, her family deeply grateful for the financial and medical support.
Rheumatologists for Stills Disease
Explore experienced rheumatologists who regularly perform stills disease and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 9 Years Experience
- Rheumatologist
KMC Hospital Mangalore