Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by the deposition of crystals of uric acid in a joint. It causes pain and inflammation in the joints of the feet and legs. This disease occurs when excess uric acid collects in the body and needle like urate crystals deposits in the joints. The presence of uric acid is usually harmless and most of the amount passed out with the urine and stools. Gout occurs because the kidneys cannot remove enough uric acid from the body or uric acid production increases in the body. Gout is the primary reason behind pain, especially in the joints of the feet and legs. Chronic gout may also result in repeated episodes of joint pain.
Causes of Gout:
Overproduction of uric acid or inability of kidney to release the uric acid is two major causes of gout attack. The attack is more common in males, women with menopause and people with high blood pressure. The symptoms of gout are also visible in the following:
- People consuming alcohol
- Sugar-sweetened soft drinks high in fructose
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Bone marrow disorders
- Water’ tablets (diuretics)
- Sickle cell anemia
- Kidney disease
- Leukemia
Symptoms of Gout:
The initial symptom of gout is the sudden swelling and redness in the joint. Gout usually affects joints in the big toe, but it can also affect the knee, foot, ankle, hands, elbow or any joint in the body. The first attack may stop immediately after one to two weeks, even without the treatment. But it can commonly returns in the same joint or in another joint. With time, these attacks can occur more frequently and may last longer. Gout symptoms appear in the form of severe pain in their ankles, wrist and feet. The following are the primary symptoms of the disease.
- Redness and inflammation
- Red/purplish skin
- Severe pain in the joint
- Itchy and peeling skin later
- Less flexibility
- Nodules
Diagnosis and Treatment
A number of important clinical tests are done to diagnose the disease. Doctors also conduct blood tests to check the growing level of uric acid in the blood. They collect sample, fluid from the affected joints in order to diagnose the possibilities of uric acid crystals in the blood. Once the tests are done doctors recommend dietary changes and certain medications to treat the disease. The most effective drugs prescribed for the gout is Colcrys. Call upon your doctor before starting the medication.