What are the 4 stages of gout?

Gout progresses through four clinical phases: asymptomatic hyperuricemia, acute gouty arthritis, intercritical gout (intervals between acute attacks) and chronic tophaceous gout. Demonstration of intra-articular monosodium urate crystals is necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis of gouty arthritis.

What is the difference between gout and acute gout?

Gout is a type of arthritis. It occurs when uric acid builds up in blood and causes inflammation in the joints. Acute gout is a painful condition that often affects only one joint. Chronic gout is the repeated episodes of pain and inflammation.

What do gout tophi look like?

What Do Gout Tophi Look Like? Tophi look like nodules, bumps, or lumps that protrude from the skin. They look similar to nodules that are associated with more advanced cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

What are the symptoms of acute gouty arthritis?

Among the first gouty arthritis symptoms is severe pain. The first attack of acute gouty arthritis is almost always short-term. Attack usually begins suddenly, often at night. In most cases gout affects the big toe (one or both) joint on your foot. Less often gout attacks your hand, knee, ankle or elbow joints.

Are there any joints that are affected by gout?

It is often found in the big toe. Along with the big toe, joints that are commonly affected are the lesser toe joints, the ankle, and the knee. Symptoms in the affected joint(s) may include: Pain, usually intense.

Which is the most common site for gout attack?

The small joint at the base of the big toe is the most common site for an attack. Other joints that can be affected include the ankles, knees, wrists, fingers, and elbows. In some people, the acute pain is so intense that even a bed sheet touching the toe causes severe pain.

Which is the first metatarsophalangeal joint in gout?

The clinical presentation of acute gouty arthritis is not subtle with very few mimics other than a bacterial infection. The joint most commonly involved in gout is the first metatarsophalangeal joint (the big toe), and is called podagra.