A sudden pain in the joints which is very rigorous can be referred to as gout attacks. It also sometimes leads to swelling, tenderness and redness of the joint. Generally a gout attack causes pain in a single joint; it sometimes inflames several other joints also. The irritation and the pain associated with such attack might get worst in some hours. However, it will take few days or few weeks to overcome this attack irrespective of it is being treated or not. These attacks occur due to excess accumulation of uric acid in the body which deposits around the joints in the form of crystals. The first joint affected by this attack is the big toe and it normally occurs after the asymptomatic stage.

There are various things that might initiate a gout attack but the researchers are still finding the actual reason that triggers gout attack. Basically it is believed that foods that have high level of purines are one of the main reasons for a gout attack. Most of the people experience a gout attack in the night making the joints hot and swollen which gradually becomes painful. Apart from the toe, other areas where it might get affected are the instep, heel, ankle and the knee joints.