A 35-year-old male presents with severe pain in his right foot, specifically in the first metatarsophalangeal joint. The joint is red, hot, and swollen. He reports a recent increase in consumption of seafood and beer. What are the potential diagnoses, and what are the next steps?
The acute onset of severe pain, redness, and swelling in the first metatarsophalangeal joint is strongly suggestive of gout, particularly given the patient's recent dietary history. Other potential diagnoses could include septic arthritis, trauma, or other forms of arthritis. The next steps should include blood tests for uric acid and inflammatory markers, and potentially joint aspiration to confirm the presence of urate crystals and rule out infection.