Gout
Gouty arthritis, high uric acid
What it is
Uric acid (a waste product) builds up in the blood and forms sharp crystals in a joint. This causes sudden, very painful swelling, often in the big toe. Attacks can come back again and again.
Common signs
- Sudden severe pain in one joint, often the big toe
- Joint is red, hot and swollen
- Pain often starts at night
- Lumps under the skin near joints in long-standing gout
How it is diagnosed
A health worker looks at the joint and asks about attacks. A blood test for uric acid helps. Sometimes fluid is taken from the joint to look for crystals.
Tests
- Uric acid blood test — shows high levels (may be normal during an attack)
- Joint fluid test — shows uric acid crystals
- Kidney blood tests — kidney problems raise uric acid
- Blood sugar and blood pressure — gout often goes with these
How food affects it
Food helps but cannot replace medicine. Cutting alcohol, especially beer, and sugary drinks lowers attacks. Eat less organ meat and red meat. Many people need daily medicine to lower uric acid — keep taking it and talk to your health worker.
Food as medicine, alongside your medicine. Food works alongside your medicines, not instead of them. Never stop or change your tablets without talking to your health worker.
Eat often
- Water — drink plenty
- Vegetables and leafy greens
- Beans, cowpeas and lentils — fine to eat
- Low-fat milk, yoghurt and amasi
- Fruit like oranges, pawpaw and guava
- Whole grains: millet, sorghum, teff
Eat in moderation
- Red meat and chicken — small pieces
- Sardines, mackerel and other oily fish — small portions
- Sweet fruit like ripe mango — whole, not juice
Avoid or cut down
- Beer, palm wine and local brews
- Sugary drinks: soda, malt, juice, sweetened zobo
- Liver, kidney and other organ meats
- Shrimp, crayfish and other shellfish in large amounts
- Meat extracts and very rich meat stews
Get help urgently
See a health worker the same day if a joint is hot and swollen with fever — this can be a joint infection, which is an emergency.
General information, not a diagnosis. Always follow the advice of your health worker.