World Autoimmune Arthritis Day was established in 2012 by the International Autoimmune Arthritis Movement (IAAM) and will be celebrated each year on 20 May.
Because the term ‘arthritis’ covers over 100+ conditions that involve joint pain, Autoimmune Arthritis Diseases are a small group of like illnesses that share both symptoms and treatment methods. By creating a separate day for this group, awareness about these specific, systemic, and sometimes deadly diseases can finally be brought to a global level.
This day is designed to raise awareness about Autoimmune Arthritis diseases, specifically that they are not the same as having ‘arthritis’, or only joint involvement.