The disorder causes painful arthritis, especially in the joints of the feet and legs. The condition may also develop in people with diabetes mellitus, obesity, sickle cell anemia, and kidney disease, or it may follow drug therapy that interferes with uric acid excretion. Certain drugs, can also cause gout. Certain diseases such as leukemia and hemoglobin disorders lead to excessive production of uric acid in the body. Gout develops in a person gradually or suddenly with severe symptoms.
Symptoms develop suddenly and usually involve only one or a few joints.
The pain frequently starts during the night and is often described as throbbing, crushing, or excruciating. The affected joint appears warm, red, and tender. The pain at the joints may subside in several days, but may recur at irregular intervals. Subsequent attacks usually have a longer duration. In some people, it may progress to chronic gouty arthritis, while others may have no further attacks.