Adult-onset Still’s Disease
Adult-onset Still’s Disease, otherwise known as AOSD or Wissler-Fanconi Syndrome, is a rare type of inflammatory arthritis. Initially, AOSD may only cause some pain and stiffness in your joints, but as the disease progresses, it can spread to other joints, and cause fevers and rashes. In some cases, the pain can take over the whole body, making it difficult for normal routines to continue.
What are the symptoms?
AOSD is typically difficult to diagnose as symptoms can vary from person to person, and the symptoms often do not appear all at the same time. The condition can also be mistaken for Lupus and Lymphoma - a type of cancer.
Symptoms include:
Sore throat
Fever, this is the most common symptom, it may last for a week or longer, however, you may only have two temperature spikes (above 38.9 C) daily with your temperature returning to normal in between.
Swollen lymph glands in the neck
Fatigue or tiredness that does not go away when well rested
Headaches
Difficulty breathing
Rashes, these may be pink and appear on your arms, legs, chest, back and abdomen, they may be itchy but is not always. It may only appear when the fever is present.
Abdominal pain
Achy and swollen joints, this usually lasts two weeks and is most present in your knees, wrists, ankles, shoulders and elbows.
Weight loss
Muscle pain
Causes
Adult-onset Stills Disease is an auto-inflammatory condition, meaning that it is caused by your immune system. With AOSD, instead of your immune system protecting your body as it should, it attacks it instead. However, the reason the body does this has no known cause, it is suspected that the condition may be triggered by a viral or bacterial infection. This condition seems to affect men and women equally, but can only be seen in adults.
Diagnosis
Unfortunately, diagnosis is not a simple path. There are many complications as the condition may be mistaken for others, including Lupus and Lymphoma. However, testing such as analysis of blood tests may be utilised to exclude these diseases. Ferritin levels might be higher with ASOD than with other similar diseases. X-rays are used to spot any damage to muscles and joints caused by the disease.
Unfortunately, because the condition is rare, it can go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
How is Addison’s Disease treated conventionally?
Once you have been diagnosed successfully, you will be seen at a rheumatology clinic in a hospital, visiting a specialist doctor. They will advise you on treatments and things you can do for yourself to reduce the symptoms of AOSD. You may need to have regular blood tests to check the number of different types of cells in your blood, to test how your liver is working.
The main drugs used to treat AOSD are:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
Steroids
Biological therapies
How does Surrey Centre for Nutrition work with Adult-onset Still’s Disease?
With AOSD it is important to focus attention on bringing down the level of inflammation present, and we do this by identifying inflammatory triggers and removing these. This will be in part inflammation resulting from dietary choices, but is so much more than this and will involve identifying emotional and stress triggers, gastrointestinal imbalance, nutrient deficiencies and insufficiencies, hormonal imbalance, lifestyle triggers such as sleep and environmental chemical toxin and pathogenic triggers. There is often a significant complexity around the triggers of ADOS and detailed functional and nutritional testing is required to uncover these. We are not looking to simply treat symptoms, but to identify underlying imbalances and triggers that have led to the onset of Still’s disease.
Are you ready to work with us to reach your health goals?
If you or someone you know is suffering from the symptoms or conditions listed above, Surrey Centre for Nutrition may be able to help. We typically work with clients for 3-6 months depending on your health concerns. Are you interested in working with us?
Book a discovery call to see how the Surrey Centre for Nutrition can help
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