A client with a history of gout asks the nurse about potential risk factors for the condition.
What statement by the nurse correctly identifies a risk factor associated with gout?

Choice A rationale:

"Administering prescribed medications." This is a correct choice.

Gout management often involves the use of medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), colchicine, and urate-lowering drugs, to alleviate symptoms and reduce uric acid levels.

Choice B rationale:

"Encouraging the patient to elevate the affected joint and apply ice packs." This is a correct choice.

Elevating the affected joint and applying ice packs can help reduce pain and inflammation during a gout attack.

These measures are part of symptomatic relief strategies for gout.

Choice C rationale:

"Promoting weight gain and sedentary lifestyle." This choice is incorrect.

Promoting weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle are not appropriate interventions for managing gout.

Gout is often associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyles, and the focus should be on weight management and encouraging physical activity rather than promoting weight gain and inactivity.

Choice D rationale:

"Assisting with joint immobilization if necessary." This choice is not generally recommended for managing gout.

While immobilization may be necessary in cases of severe pain or joint damage, it is not a primary nursing intervention for gout management.

Choice E rationale:

"Providing education on increasing purine intake." This choice is incorrect.

Increasing purine intake is not a suitable strategy for managing gout.

In fact, gout management typically involves reducing purine intake to lower uric acid levels and prevent gout attacks.

Choice A rationale:

The statement, "My joint pain has been gradually increasing over the past few months," is indicative of gout, but it is not a specific clinical manifestation.

Gout typically presents with sudden and severe joint pain during acute attacks.

Choice B rationale:

"I have noticed that my joint is swollen, red, and warm" is the correct choice.

These are classic clinical manifestations of gout during an acute attack.

The accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joint causes inflammation, leading to redness, warmth, and swelling.

Choice C rationale:

"I can move my affected joint without any limitations" is not consistent with gout.

Gout attacks often limit joint mobility due to pain and inflammation.

Choice D rationale:

"I have been experiencing hard lumps of uric acid crystals under my skin" describes tophi, which are a more advanced manifestation of gout.

While tophi can occur in some cases, they are not one of the initial clinical manifestations of gout.