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Polyarticular gout affects multiple joints and is more common in older people. Symptoms include sudden and severe joint pain, inflammation, and redness. Treatment may include medication, rest, and avoiding purine-rich foods. Diagnostic tests are needed to rule out gout.
Polyarticular gout is a form of gout in which multiple joints are affected. Gout is an arthritic condition in which painful crystals form around the joints in response to high levels of uric acid in the blood and urine. Polyarticular gout is more common in older people, and the most commonly affected joints include the ankles, feet, elbows, wrists, and hands.
Gout pain typically occurs on only one side of the body. This pain is most commonly seen in the feet and lower legs. Unlike those who have monoarticular gout, or gout in only one joint, people with polyarticular gout are more likely to enjoy longer periods of time between painful attacks, and the onset of pain is usually more gradual. This type of gout can also be accompanied by loss of appetite, fever, and general malaise.
Symptoms of gout include sudden and severe joint pain, inflammation, redness, and late-night or morning pain. Treatment for this type of gout may include taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and a drug known as colchicine. Although over-the-counter pain relievers can help mild gout attacks, prescription pain relievers may be needed to relieve severe pain and inflammation.
People who have polyarticular gout may have an elevated risk of high blood pressure. In fact, some medications used to treat high blood pressure can increase the risk of gout. Resting the affected joints and applying ice can help reduce pain and inflammation, as can immobilizing painful joints.
However, ice should never be applied directly to the skin without an intermediate barrier. Ice should be wrapped in a cloth or placed in an ice pack. Applying heat may also help ease pain, however, it will do little to reduce inflammation.
Some purine-rich foods can contribute to gout. These include sardines, herring, anchovies and spinach. Additionally, cauliflower, dried beans and brewer’s yeast also contain purines. Avoiding alcoholic beverages and limiting fatty foods can help prevent a gout attack, as can limiting meat consumption.
Gout can mimic other medical conditions, so when you experience joint pain, especially in your big toe, your doctor may order diagnostic tests. Medical tests to rule out polyarticular gout include blood and urine tests to determine uric acid levels, a physical exam, a detailed oral history of the patient, and diagnostic x-rays.
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