Archive puzzle
Doctordle #17
A sudden red, swollen big toe
Replay this case
Try the archived puzzle interactively, then compare your result with the static case notes below.
Case notes
Sourced case summary
Open the full case notes after playing. The text is also rendered in the page HTML so search engines can understand the archived puzzle.
Case notes
Sourced case summary
Open the full case notes after playing. The text is also rendered in the page HTML so search engines can understand the archived puzzle.
Case summary
This archived Doctordle case was published on 2026-04-17. It presents "A sudden red, swollen big toe" as a Easy Rheumatology puzzle. The final answer is Gout.
Answer
Gout
Source
Topic pages verified on 2026-07-11
Information summarized from MedlinePlus.gov. MedlinePlus does not endorse Doctordle.
Six clues
Clue 1
A 54-year-old wakes with severe pain at the base of the big toe.
Clue 2
The joint is red, swollen, hot, and extremely tender.
Clue 3
A similar attack happened after a rich meal and alcohol at a party.
Clue 4
The pain comes in abrupt flares rather than constant low-grade discomfort.
Clue 5
The condition is associated with uric acid crystal inflammation.
Clue 6
The classic teaching location is the first metatarsophalangeal joint.
Plain-language explanation
Gout is a form of inflammatory arthritis linked to uric acid crystals. Sudden, severe joint pain, often in the big toe, is a classic educational clue.
More from this category
Related diagnosis puzzles
Continue with archived cases from the same medical category.