Gout is well differentiated from a traumatic lesion such as a foot sprain. Sprained feet have a clear history of trauma, which is usually well defined, and blood uric acid levels are usually normal after symptoms of joint swelling and pain. Gout is different in that in an acute arthritic attack, the affected joints can quickly become red, swollen, hot, painful, and limited in movement. It usually returns to normal in about 3-7 days, but is prone to recurring attacks. In remission, blood uric acid levels are generally significantly higher, often accompanied by obesity or hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease and other complications. So these two diseases are well identified.