You may associate it with Victorian times, but a disease that was common then is making a comeback in the UK. It has been revealed that as one million Brits in the UK might have gout.
WalesOnline has reported that NHS specialists estimate that around 250,000 people were admitted to hospital with the condition and needed to be treated between 2021 and 2022. It has been said that there was a resurgence of the illness during the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of this is still being felt now.
Gout is a type of arthritis which is caused by a chemical called uric acid forming small crystals, known as tophi, in and around the joints. If these tophi make their way into the joints they can trigger an inflammation which causes extreme pain, tenderness and irritation in the affected area.
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Symptoms people should look out for include:
hot, swollen, red skin over the affected joint
- Sudden severe pain in a joint – usually your big toe, but it can be in other joints in your feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows or knees
These can be harder to see on black or brown skin, the Mirror reports. Tophi can develop anywhere in our bodies but is most commonly found in people's toes, heels, knees, fingers, ears, forearms of even in the elbow.
Treatment will prevent the tophi from getting any bigger, and long term treatment often gradually shrinks them. Those who have very large or painful tophi may have to be surgically removed.
It has been warned that if gout isn't treated, attacks may become more frequent and prolonged, and the likelihood of developing permanent joint damage will increase. Surgery may be required to repair or replace a damaged joint in the most serious cases.
A study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Disease said that those with gout may also be at a higher risk of premature death. The NHS's most recent advice suggests you should see a GP you have symptoms of gout for the first time, or if you have gout and your usual treatments are not helping.
"An attack of gout usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks if left untreated. If you do not get treatment, future attacks may last even longer. Leaving gout untreated may cause lasting damage to joints," advice online said.
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