Gout
It is a joint disease that results in a defect in uric acid in the body, resulting in the accumulation of this acid in the blood and in various tissues of the body, and usually suffer from gout patients either increased production of uric acid in the body, or from the low ability of the kidney to get rid of it. The high level of this acid may result in many complications, most notably acute or chronic gout, as well as kidney stones, as well as topical concentrations of uric acid in the skin and other tissues.
For gout, there are two types: a disease in which the disease occurs without any prior cause. The other type of secondary is associated with other diseases or as a result of the treatment of certain types of drugs. The incidence of gout is increasing, with studies indicating that about 6 million people in the United States alone. Gout is a common cause of sudden attacks of pain, swelling, fever and redness in the affected joint, especially in the large toe joint. Some reports suggest that gout is a more common cause of inflammatory arthritis in men over 40 years of age.
Gout is diagnosed by detecting uric acid crystals when a biopsy is taken from the injured joints. The presence of these crystals in the joints leads to intermittent episodes of gout. Repeating such seizures greatly destroys the joint. The disease is chronic. Despite the growing nature of gout, there are many effective medicines to treat.
Symptoms of gout
The signs and symptoms of gout are often sudden, and at night usually without warning, the most important of these symptoms are:
- Sharp pain in the injured joint : It usually affects the big toe, but it can occur in the foot, ankle, knee, wrist, or hand. In many cases the pain is more severe during the first hours of its onset.
- Permanent feeling of discomfort : This feeling comes after the disappearance of the effects of the bout of inflammation, and continue for days or weeks. Subsequent seizures are more severe, and their effect lasts longer.
- Redness and inflammation of the injured joint : It shows signs of inflammation of different; from redness and swelling and a sense of warmth, and it is very painful when touched.
- Minimize the extent of movement of the injured joint : Patients have difficulty moving it if gout is aggravated.
- There are also marks on the skin covering the affected joint , As if the color becomes red or become bright, as well as skin may peel and scratch it.
Causes of gout
Gout is caused by the high level of uric acid in the blood, and there are many cases of disease, medicines and foods that stimulate the rise, including:
- Undergo surgery, or suffer from sudden severe illness.
- Damage to the joint.
- Infection.
- Take medications, such as diuretics used to treat high blood pressure or heart problems, as well as taking cyclosporine or chemotherapy.
- To undergo a severe diet or to fast for a long time.
- Dryness caused by lack of fluid intake.
- Drink in bulk.
- Eat foods rich in purine, such as red meat and crusty seafood.
- Drink plenty of soft drinks.
Treatment of gout
For the treatment of gout, many methods, including what is used to relieve pain during the bout of infection, and some of which helps to prevent infection in the future. This treatment is as follows:
- Methods used to relieve pain during a gout attack include:
- Take medicines prescribed to treat the disease when you feel the pain as soon as possible. These medicines need about two or three days to reach the desired effect. Taking care to rest, and do not make any effort that would damage the injured joint, while keeping it above the level of the body.
- Place ice packs on the affected joint for about 20 minutes, and should not be placed on the joint directly, but wrapped with a cloth.
- Use of NSAIDs: It also works to relieve pain and relieve joint irritation. These drugs include naproxen, diclofenac, and ituricoccip.
- Colchicine: This medicine is taken if the patient is unable to take NSAIDs or if they do not work well. Colchicine works to reduce swelling and relieve pain associated with gout attacks.
- The use of corticosteroids: and used in the case of severe gout attacks if the patient did not respond to the previous drugs.
- Changing diet and taking medications to prevent other seizures: Avoid eating foods that contain large amounts of uric acid, such as red meat, internal organs of animals, and some seafood, as well as foods containing yeast. The gout patient is advised to maintain the ideal weight, avoid eating drinks and sugary foods, and exercise continuously, taking care to drink large amounts of water, and stop drinking alcohol.
- Medications that reduce the chance of gout attacks reduce the proportion of uric acid in the blood, the most commonly used aloprenol, and fibosestate, and the least used include benzepremarone, and selenbepirazone.