How do I know if it's gout, and how do I get it checked?

The diagnosis of gout can be made by symptoms, physical examination, and laboratory tests.

1. Symptoms

1. Joint pain: If the patient has arthritic manifestations in the acute attack period, it can manifest as typical symptoms such as redness, swelling, heat and pain of the unilateral first metatarsophalangeal joint. It peaks within 24 hours and lasts for several days before gradually subsiding.

2. Physical examination

The doctor will also palpate and press on the patient's joints to see if there is redness, swelling, fever, etc., and will also measure the body temperature to see if there is a fever.

3. Laboratory examinations

1. Uric acid determination: Determining the amount of uric acid in serum by detecting the level of uric acid in the blood is one of the most commonly used diagnostic methods.

2. C-reactive protein: C-reactive protein is an inflammatory marker that is elevated during an acute attack of gout and can help doctors rule out similar symptoms caused by other diseases.

3. Ultrasonography: Ultrasonography can show a large amount of fluid accumulation in the joint cavity, which can help confirm the diagnosis.

Patients are advised to pay attention to a healthy diet in their daily life and avoid eating foods high in purines, such as animal liver, seafood, etc. At the same time, it is also necessary to exercise appropriately, which can promote the body's metabolism and facilitate the recovery of the disease. If gout is diagnosed, it can be treated with drugs such as febuxostat tablets and benzbromarone tablets under the guidance of a doctor.