Young man with gout at age 22, warning signs from ankle pain

A 22-year-old man in Hanoi was hospitalized for unexplained pain in his left ankle. At the medical facility, doctors discovered that the man had a series of medical conditions, including gout, a disease that is common in older people.

Many young people suffer from gout due to many causes - Photo: BVCC

Got gout at age 22

The patient, Mr. P.D.H., came to a medical facility in Hanoi with a dull pain in his left ankle, which gradually increased, especially at night and when moving. Despite using painkillers at home, the condition did not improve, forcing him to go to a medical facility for a check-up.

Mr. H. shared that he had previously suffered from ankle pain and swelling 1-2 times. After taking painkillers, he felt better so he was subjective. At the same time, he was also recorded to have increased uric acid (an indicator of gout) in his blood but had not been treated thoroughly.

On examination, the patient's vital signs were still within normal limits, however, he was overweight with a BMI of 35.01 kg/m². Musculoskeletal examination showed that the left ankle joint was swollen, hot, red, and had significant limited mobility.

No abnormalities were found in other joints. Based on the clinical condition, the doctors made a preliminary diagnosis of acute gout and grade II obesity, and ordered blood tests and specialized imaging.

Test results showed that Mr. H.'s blood uric acid level was high (671.67 µmol/L), and he had a lipid metabolism disorder with increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Ultrasound of the left ankle showed joint effusion, and general abdominal ultrasound showed grade II fatty liver and gallbladder polyps.

Although the dual-energy CT scan results did not detect urate crystal deposition, with appropriate clinical and paraclinical criteria, Mr. H. was still diagnosed with gout.

The doctor concluded that Mr. H. was diagnosed with five health problems at the same time: acute gout, obesity, lipid metabolism disorder, grade II fatty liver, and gallbladder polyps.

The doctor advised him to actively treat with medication, rest, cold compresses and lifestyle adjustments. In addition to abstaining from alcohol, animal organs, seafood and red meat, the patient was advised to drink plenty of water, eat lots of green vegetables and fruits, and exercise regularly to effectively control the disease.

Warning signs to watch out for

According to Dr. Trinh Thi Nga - a musculoskeletal specialist, gout is a disorder of uric acid metabolism, leading to the deposition of urate crystals in the joints and causing acute arthritis.

If not treated early, gout can lead to serious joint damage, limb deformities, kidney damage and reduced quality of life.

Previously, gout was common in middle-aged and elderly men, but now it is becoming more common in younger men, especially those with sedentary lifestyles, high protein diets, and frequent alcohol consumption.

According to Russian doctors, young people should be alert when there are signs such as sudden pain in the joints of the lower limbs (usually in the big toe, ankle, knee), hot, red, swollen joints, pain that increases at night, a history of increased uric acid or a high-protein diet, drinking a lot of alcohol.

Signs of recurring pain in one location, especially after drinking, stress or cold, are also important warnings.

To prevent the disease, Russian doctors recommend that people, especially young people, maintain a reasonable weight, avoid obesity, limit red meat, seafood and animal organs, and absolutely do not use alcohol. At the same time, they should drink 2-3 liters of water per day, exercise regularly and periodically screen for uric acid in the blood if at risk.

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LINH HAN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chang-trai-tre-mac-benh-gout-o-tuoi-22-dau-hieu-canh-bao-tu-dau-khop-co-chan-20250721085242202.htm