Drop is a disease that affects the joints, secondary to the deposition of crystals of sodium monourate, which occurs due to the high rate of uric acid in the blood. Not all patients with high uric acid will have gout, only 20% develop it.
The accumulation of uric acid in the blood may occur due to an increase in production or a decrease in metabolism. Some medicines, such as diuretics and salicylates may predispose to this accumulation.
The symptoms they are usually pain and swelling in big toe (hallux), which may remain for three to ten days, with remission after this period. Inflammation can occur in other joints as well. After a long period of disease, deposits of urate in the joints can occur, leading to a "swelling" that does not regress, is not painful, but ends up deforming the joints, which is known as "tofo".
O treatment of the acute crisis is the use of colchicine, anti-inflammatories, steroids and, in the chronic phase and for prevention of new acute attacks, colchicine and allopurinol are more commonly used.
It is important that the evaluation, follow-up and prescription of treatment should be done by rheumatologist. In cases of acute attacks, a ready care.
