The most important test to diagnose gouty arthritis is joint aspiration, a procedure whereby a sterile needle and syringe are used to drain joint fluid from the joint, a doctor said Thursday.
The fluid is examined to see if there are gout crystals or
bacterial infection present, said Dr. Taing Tek Hong, as a guest on "Hello
VOA."
"Your doctor may obtain a blood sample to look at your cell counts [and]
uric acid levels," he said.
Gout may be treated with Ibuprofen, Advil, Aleve and Prednisone, he said, by decreasing uric acid in the joints.
A common side effect, stomach pain, can be alleviated by taking the medication with meals, he said.
