Victorian disease returns to hit thousands of Brits – 2 signs to look …
Specialists have revealed as many as one million Brits in the UK could have a disease which dates back to Victorian times.
Gout is a type of arthritis[1] which is caused by a chemical called uric acid forming small crystals, known as tophi, in and around the joints. If these tophi make their way into the joints they can trigger an inflammation which causes irritation, swelling, extreme pain and tenderness in the affected area.
It was very common in Victorian Britain and is mainly associated with people from that time era, but there has been a resurgence of the illness during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, NHS[2] specialists estimate approximately 250,000 people were admitted to hospital with the condition and needed to be treated between 2021 and 2022.
More recently, new figures have suggested that between 1% to 2% of the British population currently suffers from gout or exhibits some symptom of it. Symptoms people should look out for include: sudden severe pain in a joint – usually your big toe, but it can be in other joints in your feet, ankles, hands, wrists, elbows or knees.
As well as hot, swollen, red skin over the affected joint – redness may be harder to see on black or brown skin. Tophi can develop anywhere in our bodies but is most commonly found in people's toes, heels, knees, fingers, ears, forearms of even in the elbow.
Successful treatment[3] will prevent the tophi from getting any bigger, and long term treatment often gradually shrinks them. If you have very large or painful tophi, they may have to be surgically removed. If gout isn't treated, attacks may become more frequent and prolonged, and your likelihood of developing permanent joint damage will increase. In the most serious cases, surgery may be required to repair or replace a damaged joint.
While gout itself is not fatal, it can lead to life-changing complications if not treated. Those with gout may also be at a higher risk of premature death, according to a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The NHS's most recent advice suggests you should see a GP you have symptoms of gout for the first time, or if you have gout and your usual treatments are not helping.
Advice online said: "An attack of gout usually lasts 1 to 2 weeks if left untreated. If you do not get treatment, future attacks may last even longer. Leaving gout untreated may cause lasting damage to joints."
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