Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid in the blood, which leads to the formation of needle-like urate crystals in joints and surrounding tissues. This causes sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in one or more joints, most commonly the big toe, but it can also affect ankles, knees, elbows, wrists, and fingers

What is Gout?

• Gout occurs when high levels of uric acid accumulate in the body, either because the body produces too much uric acid or does not excrete enough of it. This results in urate crystals depositing in joints, causing inflammation and arthritis

• It is more common in men and typically develops in middle age, while women tend to develop gout after menopause

• Gout can progress through stages: asymptomatic hyperuricemia (high urate levels without symptoms), acute gout attacks, symptom-free intervals, and chronic tophaceous gout (with crystal deposits called tophi that can damage joints and organs)

Symptoms of Gout

• Intense joint pain: Usually starts suddenly, often at night, with pain reaching its peak within 4 to 24 hours. The big toe joint is most commonly affected, but other joints can be involved

• Swelling and redness: The affected joint becomes swollen, red, warm to the touch, and very tender. Even light contact, such as the weight of a bedsheet, can cause severe pain

• Lingering discomfort: After the worst pain subsides, some joint discomfort may last days to weeks

• Warmth and tenderness: The joint may feel hot and tender, sometimes described as feeling "on fire"

• Stiffness: In chronic cases, joints may become stiff, especially after repeated attacks

• Tophi formation: In long-term untreated gout, hard lumps of urate crystals (tophi) can form under the skin and around joints, potentially causing permanent damage

Additional Notes

• Gout attacks can be triggered by certain foods, alcohol, medications, physical trauma, or illnesses

• Without treatment, gout attacks may become more frequent, last longer, and affect more joints

• Gout is associated with other health conditions such as hypertension, kidney disease, obesity, and diabetes

In summary, gout is a painful arthritis caused by uric acid crystal buildup, characterized by sudden severe joint pain, swelling, redness, and warmth, most often affecting the big toe but potentially other joints as well