New York residents who have gout should know that there are a number of conditions that gout can be mistaken for. There’s the chance, then, that the diagnosis is not the correct one. Below are six conditions that can be mistaken for gout and vice versa.
First is pseudogout, another type of inflammatory arthritis. Unlike gout, which is caused by a build-up of uric acid, though, pseudogout is caused by a build-up of calcium pyrophosphate. A doctor may tell the difference by examining fluid from the affected joint. Second, septic arthritis can resemble gout in affecting a single joint and causing both a fever and an increase in one’s white blood cell count.
Cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection, especially on the lower leg, causes the skin to become hot and painful and is accompanied by fever: again, like gout. Fourth, an inflamed toe can be due to stress fractures, which are tiny cracks in the bone.
Two other types of arthritis round out the possible conditions: rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. RA can be confused with polyarticular gout, which is gout that affects more than one joint, because both create lumps under the skin. PsA can lead to gout-like lumps, too, in a condition called dactylitis. Dactylitis gives fingers and toes a sausage-like appearance.
People who have been misdiagnosed and who have been harmed as a result may be able to file a claim. If successful, they could be reimbursed for their past and future medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Of course, negotiating a settlement is another matter, and it may be hard to gather proof of the doctor’s negligence, so victims may want a lawyer to assist them.