What is the Treatment of Still’s Disease?

Still’s Disease can be painful and often debilitating. It affects the joints in the wrists, elbows, knees etc and can also affect the functioning of the lungs and heart. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like aspirin, ibuprofen etc are the most common mode of treatment for this condition. These drugs help relieve pain and inflammation but they are associated with some side effects and needs to be used with caution in people with heart or liver problems. NSAIDS are usually taken for 1 to 3 months and most people find that it eases their symptoms. If a patient does not respond well to treatment with NSAIDS, doctors may prescribe corticosteroids. Glucocorticoids like prednisone are commonly used for people with severe forms of Still’s Disease. Sometimes, doctors prescribe methotrexate to treat Still’s Disease. This has been found to be very effective especially in those people who go on to develop a chronic form of the disease. It reduces dependency on corticosteroids. Biologics which targets cells and chemical mediators of the immune system like TNF-alpha are also effective in countering this condition. Most people recover without any complications. Some people may find that symptoms fade after treatment but flare up occasionally. Others may develop a chronic form of the disease.