Gout

This NICE Clinic knowledge summary (CKS) offers background information on gout and provides details on diagnosis and management.

This information page from Versus Arthritis outlines the symptoms, causes and treatments of gout. It can be used as a useful resource for patients.

The Diagnosis and management of gout module is part of the General Practice 2012 Curriculum (e-GP) and can be accessed when you are logged in to e-LfH via the CPPE website under e-Learning for Healthcare learning modules.

This session covers the diagnosis and management of gout, and how to differentiate gout from other conditions, including septic arthritis. It also covers treatments for both acute and chronic gout.

An OpenAthens account is required to access this learning. Consultant rheumatologist, Dr Edward Roddy, offers expert answers to questions from GPs on common challenges with gout, including treating acute attacks and initiating urate lowering therapy in patients with comorbidities.

Session 2 of this e-learning is Gout and Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR).

This session aims to cover the diagnosis and treatment of two common conditions, gout and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), both of which can often be managed in primary care.

Please note that access requires registration.

Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis worldwide and can be linked to other serious health conditions.

Gout causes attacks of pain and swelling in one or more joints. An anti-inflammatory painkiller usually eases an attack quickly. Lifestyle factors may reduce the risk of having gout attacks. These include losing weight (if overweight), eating a healthy diet and not drinking much alcohol or sugar-sweetened soft drinks. If gout attacks come back then taking certain medicines such as allopurinol each day can prevent them.