Last Updated on Thursday, 27 May 2010 12:07

Symptoms of gout may occur suddenly and without any warning, developing over only a few hours. The primary symptom is an intense pain in the affected joint.

Joint pain and tenderness

• In 70% of the cases, the patient feels an intense pain in the large joint of the big toe. 90% of people with gout experience a pain anywhere in the big toe.

• The tenderness is intense. You may have difficulties in walking and moving. You may not be able to bear even the weight of your bed sheet. You may feel pain in two or more joints simultaneously.

• Gout can also affect your ankles, feet, hands, knees, and wrists. The pain typically lasts 5 to 10 days and then stops. In one to two weeks, the discomfort subsides and the joint may be apparently normal and pain-free.

Other symptoms of gout

• Other symptoms include swelling, redness and warmth over the affected joint. You may experience repeated attacks of joint inflammation (gouty arthritis) over the years.

• With time, the attacks may occur more frequently and last longer. Uric acid crystals called tophi may get deposited in cartilage tissue, tendons and other soft tissues.

• Gout can lead to joint deformity and limited motions.

• People with ongoing gout may develop kidney stones that are composed of uric acid.

The sooner your gout symptoms are treated the better. Many people get gout every few weeks, months or years. It's impossible to predict whether gout will strike again, however 62% of people get a second attack within 12 months.

Diagnosis of Gout

Your doctor may recommend a few tests for diagnosis.

• Joint Fluid Aspiration: Your doctor may use a needle to draw fluid from your affected joint. The fluid is examined under a microscope and may reveal the presence of urate crystals or bacterial infections.

• Blood test: Blood samples are tested for uric acid levels or proper functioning of the kidneys. The uric acid level in your blood, however, can be misleading. People with high serum uric acid levels may never experience gout while some patients with gout may also have normal uric acid levels.

• X-rays: If you have had multiple attacks of gout, an X-ray may help to assess the underlying joint damage.