To know if you have gout, look for sudden, severe pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in a joint—most often the big toe—but it can be any joint like ankles, knees, wrists, or fingers. The pain typically comes on suddenly, often at night, and can be intense enough that even the weight of a bedsheet feels unbearable. The joint may look red, swollen, and feel hot to the touch. Other symptoms include lingering discomfort and limited joint movement after the initial pain subsides. Gout usually affects one joint at a time during an attack but can affect more joints if untreated. Risk factors include being overweight, eating foods high in purines (like certain fish, meats, and alcohol), and family history. To confirm if symptoms are due to gout, a doctor can perform:
- A joint fluid test (to look for uric acid crystals under a microscope)
- Blood test (to measure uric acid levels)
- X-rays or ultrasound imaging to rule out other conditions and check for urate crystals
If sudden joint pain with redness, swelling, and heat occurs, especially in the big toe, seeking medical evaluation is important for diagnosis and treatment to avoid joint damage and complications. In summary, key signs of gout are sudden severe joint pain, redness, swelling, warmth, mainly affecting the big toe, often occurring at night, confirmed by medical tests like joint fluid analysis or blood uric acid levels.
