Understanding Gout Disease: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

What is Gout Disease?

Gout disease is one of the most common forms of painful, inflammatory arthritis, affecting joints such as the wrists, ankles, toes, elbows, fingers, and knees. In most cases, the big toe is usually affected by gout, which is why it is often associated with ‘foot pain’. Gout attacks tend to intensify during the night, and the gout symptoms may become more severe after sunset. People with a prior history of osteoarthritis are more prone to developing gout over time.

Types of Gout Disease

The gout disease may be classified into the following types —

• Acute gout:

This is the most common type of gout. Acute gout lasts for a few days to a few weeks and is characterised by a sudden, sharp pain in one joint, which is, in most cases, the big toe joint.

• Chronic gout:

Acute gout may take the shape of chronic gout if left untreated. In the case of chronic gout, the painful attacks may become more frequent, affecting more than one joint. This type of gout may lead to permanent joint damage or deformity.

• Tophaceous gout:

This is a more severe gout type. The formation of tophi, or solidified uric acid crystals, is the root cause of this gout. The tophi accumulate in the soft tissues surrounding the joints, leading to tophaceous gout. The deposits may eventually become lumps under the skin's surface, triggering severe joint inflammation and damage.

Symptoms

The most common gout symptoms are:

• Severe pain in the affected joint

• Skin discolouration or redness

• Stiffness of joint

• A feeling of tenderness and warmth at the joint

• Shiny skin on the joint

• Joint swelling

• Limited range of motion

These symptoms may aggregate during the night, interrupting one’s sleep.

Causes

An accumulation of uric acid is one of the primary gout causes. Uric acid is produced as a by-product when the body metabolises the purines present in certain foods and drinks. Normally, your kidneys filter out this waste product from your blood and expel it through urine. However, if too much uric acid is produced, your kidneys may not be able to remove it quickly enough. This can lead to hyperuricemia, characterised by high uric acid levels in the body. Excess uric acid can crystallise and collect in various joints. The sharp uric acid crystals may fuse and irritate the joints, causing episodes of gout attacks.

However, gout attacks may be triggered by certain factors, such as:

• High-purine diet

• Intake of sugary beverages

• Excessive intake of alcohol

• Emotional stress

• Extremes of weather conditions

• Excessive dehydration

• High fever

Secondary gout may be caused by factors like chronic kidney disease and the consumption of drugs that affect kidney function, such as diuretics, aspirin, etc.

Risk Factors

The common risk factors for gout disease include:

• Family history of gout

• A high-purine diet

• Addiction to alcohol

• Those assigned male at birth

• Those who have aged

• Obesity

• Diabetes

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Congestive heart failure

• Blood cancer

• Kidney disease

• Medications, such as immunosuppressants and diuretics

Diagnosis

The doctor takes your medical history, does a physical examination of the affected joint or joints, and prescribes a few diagnostic tests, such as:

• Joint fluid analysis for detecting urate crystals in the extracted joint fluid

• Imaging tests like an X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, or the dual-energy computerised tomography

• Blood tests for checking the levels of uric acid in blood

Treatment

Your doctor may treat the gout symptoms through anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids or steroid-based drugs. The doctor may also prescribe uric-acid-lowering medication. Additionally, you may be advised of certain lifestyle changes, such as:

• Limiting the consumption of animal proteins like red meat and organ meat

• Limiting the consumption of packaged and processed foods

• Limiting the intake of sugary beverages

• Limiting the intake of alcohol

• Drinking enough water

• Maintaining a healthy body weight

FAQs

1. How long does a gout attack last?

Gout attacks may last a week or even two weeks. However, the attack may last even longer in some complex cases and produce more severe symptoms.

2.  Which foods can cause gout?

Gout disease may be caused by foods such as:

• Sweets and sugary beverages

• Processed snacks

• Packaged food products

• Red meat, organ meat, and game meat

• Meat sauces

• Certain Seafoods

3.  When should you seek urgent medical help?

You should see a doctor if:

• The pain worsens

• The swelling increases

• You get a high fever

• You experience total loss of appetite

• You start feeling utterly weak

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Sources: arthritis.org, clevelandclinic.org, hss.edu

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered or used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Kindly contact your doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Published on March 6, 2025