Gout Inflammatory Arthritis

Gout is a disease that is commonly misdiagnosed because it is often mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis or infection, when in reality it is much more. The history of gout goes back 2640BC in the time of the Ancient Egyptians. At this time it was often called “the un-walkable disease” because of the excruciating pain felt in the foot or toe joints. Later it became known as “king’s disease” or “rich man’s disease” because it was a disease most commonly associated with those that could afford ample food and alcohol (Shah, 2015: 1). Today gout is simply recognized as a painful form of inflammatory arthritis and is no longer considered a “status” condition (Shah, 2015: 7).
Gout is an acute form of inflammatory arthritis that often goes unnoticed until
Since gout is a build up of uric acid in joints, if left untreated it can lead to chronic pain and immobilization of the joint (Shah, 2015: 18). In other cases, kidney stones can form as a result of uric acid crystal accumulation in the urinary tract (Balch, 2010: 458). In more severe cases, “untreated gout can lead to tophus, disfiguring hands, feet, knees, and elbows and in severe cases can cause skin ruptures leading to infection” (Shah, 2015: 18). Gout should therefore be treated as soon as the first attack occurs in order to prevent any further medical conditions or complications. In addition to tophus, hyperuricemia (the underlying cause of gout) is the precursor to many other diseases such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, and obesity (Murray and Pizzorono, 2012:
Daily routines such as drinking, overeating, and stress can all lead to gout attacks. In other cases, crash dieting, injury to a joint, trauma, or recent surgery can all be contributing factors to the development of gout (Balch, 2010: 460). Outside of health issues, genetics may play an important role when it comes to diagnosing gout. If you have a history of gout in the family, the chances are you may develop it as well. Sex and age play a major role in the development of gout with 90% of people who suffer from gout being male. A decrease in estrogen can lead to an increase in uric acid, which is why women will typically not experience gout till after the age of 70. Men on the other hand can develop gout anytime between 30 and 50 years of age (Shah, 2015: