Ask the Doc: 'What is gout and how do I know if I have it?'
Gout is a type of arthritis in which small crystals form inside and around the joints.
It causes sudden attacks of severe pain, redness and swelling. Any joint can be affected by gout, but it usually affects joints towards the ends of the limbs, such as the toes, ankles, knees and fingers.
Signs and symptoms of gout include:
* severe pain in one or more joints
* the joint feeling hot and very tender
* swelling in and around the affected joint
* red, shiny skin over the affected joint
Symptoms develop rapidly over a few hours and typically last three to 10 days. After this time the pain should pass and the joint should return to normal.
It's estimated that between one and two in every 100 people in the UK are affected by gout. The condition mainly affects men over 30 and women after the menopause. Overall, gout is more common in men than women. Almost everyone with gout will experience further attacks at some point, usually within a year.
Gout can be extremely painful and debilitating, but treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms and prevent further attacks. See your GP if you suspect you have gout and it hasn't been previously diagnosed, particularly if the pain keeps getting worse and you also have a high temperature (fever). It's important that a diagnosis is confirmed because other conditions that require urgent treatment, such as an infected joint, can sometimes cause similar symptoms. If you've already been diagnosed with gout and you have an attack, see your GP if any medication you've been prescribed (see below) doesn't start working within a couple of days.
