Thursday, June 10, 2010

Gout: diagnosis and treatment


Gout is a very painful and sometimes debilitating joint disease caused by the formation of uric acid crystals at the joints. However, early diagnosis, management and treatment, can lead to decreasing the severity and frequency of attacks of gout. Most patients who are experiencing an attack of gout, usually complain of severe pain in the joint hit. This pain tends to be worse at night. One of the most common areas affected came hallux at the ball of the foot. Typical symptoms that occur in a Gout attack are hot and extremely swelling and redness. The pain can be very heartbreaking, to the point that even slight touch linen can cause pain.

Interestingly, the painful symptoms of gout usually occur at night when the temperature drops. Once the body temperature is below, there is greater occurrence of uric acid crystals that start slowly to form at the joints.This process is very similar to how to dissolve the sugar in hot water When hot water cools, dissolved sugar slowly begins to reform similar to the formation of uric acid crystals in the foot when lowers body temperature.

Origin of gout: Gout is a disease commonly found in older men and post-menopausal women.The causes of gout is divided into two categories, both the body overproduces uric acid, which is the main component of uric acid crystals, or body under excretes uric acid. Under excreting uric acid is the most common cause of both categories. However, in both cases, there is a high concentration of uric acid in the body and then increased training of uric acid crystals at the joints.

The diagnosis of gout: If suspected of gout, x-rays can be taken to evaluate the common project. In a patient with chronic Gout, uric acid crystals can cause bone erosion which can be viewed on x-rays. In addition, x-rays are taken to exclude other possible causes for this type of pain, such as a fracture or arthritis. Blood tests can be performed to determine the amount of uric acid in the body. Note, however, that there could be normal levels of uric acid in blood even if the patient has Gotta or symptoms of gout. Gout, moreover, can be diagnosed by common aspiration.This procedure requires the local anaesthetic to numb the joint, then using a needle and syringe programmes; a sample of common fluid is removed for analysis The joint fluid in Gout presents an appearance of white cheese than a normal joint with clear fluid. This common fluid is then sent to the laboratory for analysis. Uric acid crystals can be viewed in the laboratory using a microscope.

Conservative Treatment, a way to decrease the incidence of attacks of gout is changing to a diet that is low in shell fish and red meat. These types of food are high content of Purine Nucleoside. is a chemical that is divided into uric acid in the body.Purine Decrease consumption results in less buildup of uric acid and therefore less likely to get an attack of gout.

Oral medications may also reduce the incidence and severity of attacks of gout. Indometacin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, is used to reduce inflammation and swelling symptoms of gout.

The regular use of colchicine may be recommended to prevent inflammation uric acid crystals.This medicine can also be used for the treatment of acute gout.

To reduce the amount of uric acid in the body, another medicine called allupurinol can be used. this medicine inhibits the conversion Purina uric acid and then prevents forming crystals.

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