Signs and Symptoms
The most common locations for gouty joints include:
- Great toe
- Ankle
- Wrist
- Knee
- Elbow
- Hand or fingers
- Spine
The classic picture of an acute gout attack is the sudden development of a painful, swollen, warm joint. The pain may be so severe that even a sheet draped across the affected joint is intolerable. A low-grade fever may also be present.
Mild attacks usually resolve quickly, but severe attacks can last days or weeks. The joint then appears normal and is pain-free.
After a period of many years, the chronic stage of gout may develop. In this stage, the disease has caused permanent damage to affected joints and, occasionally, to the kidneys. When uric acid deposits accumulate in the skin over long periods of time, they form small, rounded lumps (nodules) called tophi. These nodules vary in size, and they are yellow or cream in color. If the tophi become very large, they can erupt through the skin and discharge a chalky, white substance. The most common locations for tophi include:
- Rims of the ears
- Toes and fingers
- Achilles tendons
- Elbows and knees
Who's At Risk
