What is gout and what are its symptoms

When it comes to gout, many people know about it. Because gout is very powerful, it can cause great damage to the joints and cause acute joint inflammation in patients. Therefore, patients should pay attention to their diet. They cannot eat foods with high uric acid, nor can they use cold air. Air conditioners and fans should not be touched.

Symptoms and signs

Acute onset of joint pain is a typical symptom of acute gout. The disease often occurs after minor injuries, overeating or related diseases, and is particularly prone to occur in the distal joints of the limbs. Typical symptoms occur in the toes (foot gout). Urate stones can also cause renal colic. Chronic gout is characterized by destructive joint changes.

Skin symptoms: In about half of cases, urate is deposited under the skin. These nodules are called gouty nodules or tophi. Gout stones often appear as white or pearly nodules (gout pearls) and occur on free curved skin edges (such as the auricle). Other characteristic symptoms of tophi are white or yellow nodules on the finger (toe) joints. Urate deposits in the skin. Round stones may be visible through thinning skin, and they may rupture. Gout nodules near joints tend to occur in groups or fuse. Tophi occur after an acute attack and are painless. If the skin is broken, a white lime-like substance may be released. Microscopic examination shows a carcinogenic mixture of bundles of needle-like substances, which are identified as sodium urate.

Treatment

Gout nodules that affect functional activities are removed and systemic treatment is given. Acute gout attack: rest in bed, take colchicine 0.5 μg/h until pain is relieved or diarrhea occurs. Analgesics such as indomethacin 100 μg/d for 2 to 3 days. Chronic gout: low-purine diet and long-term use of probenecid (carboxybenzenesulfonamide) 1-2g/d to increase renal uric acid excretion. Lose weight. Reduce body weight.