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This Week - G : Gout

Gout is a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe joint pain. Painkillers can help the pain and healthier lifestyle choices can prevent future attacks.

Check if it's gout

The main symptoms of gout are:

• sudden severe pain in a joint - usually your big toe, but it can be in other joints in your feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows or knees
• hot, swollen, red skin over the affected joint - redness may be harder to see on black or brown skin.

See a GP if:

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

What happens at your appointment

The GP may ask about your diet and if you drink alcohol if you have symptoms of gout.

They may also do a test to measure how much uric acid is in your blood. Uric acid is a chemical that can lead to crystals forming around your joints which cause pain.

If the test is still unclear, a GP may refer you to see a specialist (rheumatologist) and arrange further tests.

This could include taking a sample of fluid from inside the affected joint, using a thin needle. If this test cannot be done or the diagnosis is still unclear, then a scan will be arranged.

Treatment for gout attacks

Attacks of gout are usually treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID), like ibuprofen.

If the pain and swelling does not improve you may be given steroids as tablets or an injection.

Treatment to prevent gout coming back

Gout can come back every few months or it may be years. It can come back more often if it's not treated.

If you have frequent attacks or high levels of uric acid in your blood, you may need to take uric acid-lowering medicine.

Important

It's important to take uric acid-lowering medicine regularly, even when you no longer have symptoms.

Things you can do to help a gout attack

If you're having a gout attack, there are things you can do to relieve the pain:

Who gets gout

Gout is caused by having too much uric acid in your blood. This can lead to crystals forming around your joints, which causes pain.

It sometimes runs in families.

It's more common in men, especially as they get older.

You might have a higher chance of getting gout if you:

• are overweight
• drink alcohol
• take medicines such as diuretics (water tablets), or medicines for high blood pressure (such as ACE inhibitors)
• have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney problems, osteoarthritis or diabetes
• have had surgery or an injury

Things that can trigger a gout attack

You might get a gout attack if you:

• have an illness that causes a high temperature
• drink too much alcohol or eat a very large, fatty meal
• get dehydrated
• injure a joint
• take certain medicines

Get treatment immediately if you feel an attack starting.

Things you can do to help prevent gout coming back

Making healthy lifestyle choices may mean you can stop or reduce further gout attacks:

Complications of gout

If you get repeated attacks of gout over a long period of time (chronic gout), and are not treated it can lead to:

• damage in your joints
• hard lumps, called tophi, under your skin, usually on your ears, fingers or elbows - they can be painful and have an impact on your daily life
• kidney stones
• chronic arthritis - but this is rare

If you want to find out more about this week's subject you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.