Health experts have shared that as many as a million people living in the UK with a disease that dates back to the Victorian era. The Mirror reports that gout affects thousands of people across the country each day, and actually dates back to Victorian times.
Gout is a type of arthritis that is caused by a chemical called uric acid, that forms small crystals - known as tophi - in and around the joints. If the crystals make their way into the joints, they can cause inflammation which in turn can invoke irritation, swelling, tenderness and extreme pain.
This disease was extremely common in Victorian Britain, and is mainly associated with that time period, but there has been a resurgence of the illness since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Now, NHS experts have estimated approximately 250,000 people were admitted to hospital with the condition and were treated between 2021 and 2022.
In more recent data, figures have suggested that between one to two per cent of the entire British population suffers from gout, or exhibits some symptoms of the condition.
The main symptom people should be watching out for is sudden severe pain in a joint - typically in the big toe, but can be in other feet joints, as well as ankles, wrists, hands, elbows or knees.
Another common symptom is hot, swollen, red skin over the affected joint, which is harder to spot 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.
Treatment can prevent the tophi from getting any bigger, and long term treatment often gradually shrinks them. Those with very large or painful tophi may have to undergo surgery to remove it.
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 severe of cases, surgery may be required to repair or even replace a damaged joint. While gout is not fatal on its own, it can lead to life-changing complications if not treated.
Top Trending Stories Today
Advice from the NHS has suggested that if you have symptoms, you should see your doctor. They also 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."
