Urate crystals facts

Information on Urate Crystals

Urate crystals can often be the cause of painful sensations located in the joints of the big toe. When the human body suffers an excessive accumulation and formation of uric acid it leads to the formation of crystalline structures which are referred to as urate crystals. This medical condition is known as hyperuricemia and it commonly affects infants more than it does affect adult persons. Sometimes the kidneys cannot excrete the uric acid properly and it leads to gout and deposition of urate crystals in the body.

The end result is pain in the joints of the big toes. The formation of urate crystals is usually triggered by accumulation of the uric acid in the body or perhaps dehydration. Small crystals may sometimes appear in the diaper of a toddler and it usually calls for panic. Most parents think that their baby is bleeding but it is actually the formation of the urate crystals in the baby’s body.

The condition itself is not abnormal and it is not serious. Urate crystals also do not hurt. In most cases they are triggered by dehydration which can be recognized by a significantly decreased output of urine which is slightly darker than usual.

Accumulation of Urate Crystals Symptoms

Sometimes a person may not experience any symptoms of the accumulation of urate crystals in the body for quite a while until they start appearing suddenly. The symptoms usually coincide with different types of infections, injuries to the joints and perhaps different eating habits.

The most common symptoms of the accumulated urate crystals in the body include swelling, painful sensations, warmth, tenderness and redness of the joints. Quite often the symptoms appear during the night. The skin above the affected area usually becomes red and dry and one may also experience fever as well. All the symptoms may be reoccurring.

Getting Rid of Urate Crystals

Accumulation of urate crystals is commonly caused by excessive consumption of several types of food which are rich in purine. Those types of food commonly contain meats, sea foods and organ meat so it may be a good idea to start avoiding such types of food. It may also be a good idea to steer clear of alcoholic beverages, drink plenty of water and ingest plenty of fruit and fruit juices.

Losing weight may also be of great help. This medical condition is not serious and it can be cured by proper diet and sufficient hydration.