General Information About Gout
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It occurs when uric acid, a waste product in the body, is not adequately excreted by the kidneys and accumulates in the blood, precipitating as sharp crystals (needles) in the joints, creating severe inflammation.
They usually wake a person suddenly from sleep at night with swelling, burning, redness, and throbbing pain on a joint (most often the big toe) that is so severe it won't even allow a bedsheet to touch it.
Red meat, offal (liver, kidneys), shellfish, alcohol (especially beer), and sweet drinks containing fructose syrup directly trigger gout attacks because they accelerate uric acid production in the body.
If the disease goes untreated for years, uric acid crystals accumulate not only inside the joint but also under the skin, on the outer ear, or elbows, forming externally visible white, chalky lumps (tophi).
During an attack, uric acid levels in the blood are checked. However, the most definitive diagnosis is made by extracting fluid from the swollen joint with a syringe (joint aspiration) and seeing the uric acid crystals under a microscope.
Cortisone, colchicine, or NSAID painkillers are used to extinguish inflammation and severe pain during an acute crisis. After the attack passes, medications that lower uric acid in the blood and a special purine-poor (meat-restricted) diet are applied for life to prevent it from recurring.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
