The estimated prevalence of gout is 5.9% in men and 2% in women, those who suffer from gout are men especially between the ages of 40 and 55 years.

Dr Hassan Mayanja a physician says gout is a condition that may occur in a susceptible individual when the amount of uric acid (sodium urate) in the blood and body fluids gets too high.

If the levels of uric acid in the blood and body fluids become abnormally elevated, Mayanja says the uric acid forms crystals take on a needle like shape.

Like a needle, the crystal jabs its way into the joints causing a lot of pain. Gout typically seems to prefer the joint of the big toe.

However, other joints can be attacked as well, including the mid-foot, ankle, knee, writs, and even the fingers. The first symptom is usually acute pain, then the affected joints become somewhat swollen, hot, and extremely sensitive to touch.

According to Mayanja other contributing factors include obesity, alcohol, candida infection, prolonged use of antibiotics and a diet rich in meat and fats. They also include junk foods such as cake, biscuits, fried foods, soda, sugary foods and beverages, and caffeine.

Medication such as isoniazid, flurosemide (Lasix), thiazide, stress and high blood pressure may cause the disease.

Avoid meat go for vegetables and fruits instead

Haspha Nassolo a senior nursing officer at Joint Clinic Research Centre says in some individuals develop gout for no apparent reasons. The interesting facts are that some people with higher levels of uric acid never experience gout.

Fundamentally uric acid is not harmful. It actually acts as a powerful antioxidant. (Antioxidants are chemicals that protect the body cells from a certain type of damage).

A greater part of uric acid is produced in the body and some of it comes from certain foods we eat.

Possible side effects of frequent and prolonged attacks of gout include kidney stones and permanent damage to the joints.

If there is a history of gout in your family;

-Maintain normal body weight for your height, build age and gender.

-Limit the amount of fats and junk foods in your diet.

-Mayanja advises people to exercise regularly, and drink plenty of water-approximately two to three litres daily.

-Avoid meat in your diet and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

-Whenever possible, avoid stressful situations.

Long-term treatment with medication either prevents the accumulation of uric acid, or accelerates its medication is not without side effects.

Therefore, gout should be treated with medication if;

-You are not overweight, and despite dietary changes your blood uric acid level is still high.

-In addition to high acid levels you have high blood pressure

-In addition to high acid levels you have kidney stones.

-You have had several attacks of gout.

Mayanja says during an attack drink plenty of water, reduce the amount of stress, and get plenty of rest. Eliminate alcohol consumption and limit or even avoid meat, beans, groundnuts, egg yolk, oats, sardines, tomatoes, spinach, cauliflower, cake, biscuits, all colas and other soft drinks, wine, beer, white bread and all fried foods.

Some of the recommended foods include rice, millet, maize flour, sunflower seeds and yellow sweet potatoes.

Others are low fat milk, egg white, very small amounts of fish, chicken without skin, carrots, pumpkin, pumpkin leaves, cabbage, green pepper, pineapple, mangoes and ripe banana.

Add a few drops of either olive or sunflower seed oil in your cooking. Do not fry. Vitamin supplements such as the B complex, folic acid, vitamin C, E, zinc, calcium, magnesium and Omega 3, fatty acids are known to help in the management of gout.