GOUT
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by uric acid crystals collecting in a joint. It usually causes sudden, very severe joint pain, most often in the big toe, but it can also affect the ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows.
Common signs and symptoms
- Sudden intense pain
- A gout attack often starts quickly, sometimes overnight, and can become severe within hours.
- Swelling, redness, and warmth
- The affected joint often becomes visibly swollen, red, and hot. On darker skin, redness may be harder to notice.
- Extreme tenderness
- Even light touch, like a bedsheet touching the joint, may feel very painful during a flare.
This is a classic feature of gout attacks.
- Stiff joint and trouble moving it
- Movement may feel difficult because the joint is inflamed and painful.
How gout attacks behave:
- Symptoms usually peak within 12 to 24 hours
- A flare may then last for several days to 1 to 2 weeks, especially if not treated.
- Flares come and go
- Many people have painful attacks separated by symptom-free periods.
Long-term gout
- Repeated or poorly controlled gout can lead to tophi
- Tophi are firm uric acid crystal deposits under the skin and are a sign of advanced or chronic gout.
Important note:
- Gout is common in the big toe, but it is not limited to the toe
- It can also affect other joints, especially ankles, knees, feet, hands, wrists, and elbows.
When to seek medical care
- First-ever sudden swollen painful joint
- Repeated attacks
- Fever, severe redness, or concern for infection
- Lumps around joints or ongoing joint damage
- A painful swollen joint is not always gout, so proper medical evaluation is important.
Medical disclaimer
This note is for general education only and is not a diagnosis. A sudden red, hot, swollen, very painful joint should be evaluated by a qualified doctor, because gout, joint infection, and other joint diseases can look similar.
