• Gout - Risk Factors
• Highlights
• Introduction
• Symptoms
• Causes and Risk Factors
• Triggers
• Treatment: Acute Gout Attack

Diagnosis

The first step in diagnosing the disease is to determine which joints are affected. A physical examination and medical history can help confirm or rule out gout. For example, gout is more likely if arthritis first appears in the big toe.

The speed of the onset of pain and swelling is also important. Symptoms that take days or weeks (rather than hours) to develop probably indicate a disorder other than gout.

Abnormal enlargements in joints that had been affected by previous injury or...