HR0009 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0009 LRB104 06226 LAW 16261 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common childhood chronic rheumatologic disorder; and

WHEREAS, JIA has a yearly incidence of 2 to 20 cases per 100,000 individuals and strikes an estimated total of 294,000 children in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) is a serious subtype of JIA and the most common type of arthritis in children and teens, affecting about 10% to 20% of children with JIA; and

WHEREAS, Systemic means it may affect not only the joints but other parts of the body, including the liver, lungs, and heart; and

WHEREAS, The most serious potential complication of SJIA is macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), a massive inflammatory response that overwhelms the whole body; and

WHEREAS, SJIA, sometimes referred to as Still's disease, affects boys and girls equally and can occur at any time during childhood, but it most commonly starts at approximately two years of age; and

WHEREAS, SJIA differs from other subtypes of JIA because it is autoinflammatory rather than autoimmune, more severe, and more challenging to diagnose and treat than other types of JIA; and

WHEREAS, The main cause of SJIA is unknown, but it is generally believed to be triggered by something in the environment of a child that has a genetic predisposition; and

WHEREAS, The symptoms of SJIA are fever, rash, and joint pain; a high, recurring fever, often coupled with a rash, is one of the first signs of the disease, with this fever usually following a pattern in which a child's temperature reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, generally in the evening, and then drops within a few hours; and

WHEREAS, According to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR), a diagnosis of SJIA requires a high fever for at least two weeks and arthritis, such as joint pain and inflammation, in one or more joints for at least six weeks; and

WHEREAS, There are no specific tests for SJIA; instead, doctors have to rely on their experience and expertise as well as the child's medical history, a comprehensive physical exam, and laboratory medical equipment to identify the disease; and

WHEREAS, While there is no known cure for SJIA, remission is possible through early aggressive treatment and non-drug therapies; and

WHEREAS, Increasing awareness among patients, parents, and healthcare providers alike regarding Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) is a key component in safeguarding children's health; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare the month of July 2025 as Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) Awareness Month in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage funding for research organizations working towards finding the cause and the cure of SJIA in order to prevent this disease and offer successful treatment options.