Leukocytes in urine – norms, causes, symptoms, treatment

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Leukocytes, or white blood cells, are an important component of the blood and protect the body against bacteria, viruses and fungi. White blood cells are physiologically present in the urine, but the standards assume that there should be no more than 4-5 of them in the field of view when the urine has been examined under a microscope. They should not be present at all in the strip test. An excess of leukocytes in the urine (leukocyturia) is a condition usually caused by inflammation of the urinary system.

A specialist should decipher the results of the analyzes, but few people refrain from comparing the obtained values ​​​​with the limits of the norm on their own. Results that differ from the norm can be frightening and frustrating. In this article, we will tell you whether white blood cells in the urine are always bad, what high and low levels of white blood cells in the urine mean, and when to sound the alarm.

What are leukocytes in urine

Leukocytes are blood cells, white blood cells. They provide the body’s immune response to external and internal adverse factors. Normally, leukocytes circulate in the bloodstream. Destroying the pathogenic flora, they themselves die and are excreted from the body with urine. Therefore, a high level of leukocytes in the urine is a signal of the inflammatory process.

Indications for diagnosis

Knowing the level of leukocytes in the urine is necessary in the following situations:

• Diagnosis of inflammatory diseases in the body.
• Diagnosis of inflammatory processes of the urinary tract.
• Preventive examination.
• Registration during pregnancy.
• Before hospitalization or any surgical intervention.
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of therapy.

Leukocytes in urine – causes

Cystitis is a likely cause of leukocytes in the urinewhich – due to its anatomical structure – is more common in women. Behind the inflammation are bacterial infections (mainly E.coli bacteria), but also sexual intercourse after a long period of abstinence or with a new partner.

Other possible causes of the appearance of leukocytes in the urine have:

1. improper hygiene of intimate places,
2. diabetes,
3. obesity,
4. vaginal infections
5. retention of urine, which leads to a weakening of the bladder,
6. pregnancy,
7. urolithiasis,
8. pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis,
9. tumors of the urinary system, prostatitis in men.

In pregnancy, if the leukocytes in the urine remain elevated for a long time and other symptoms appear, inflammation of the urinary tract cannot be ruled out. The diagnosis should be made by a doctor. It is also necessary to start treatment quickly. The presence of leukocytes in the urine may also be caused by the use of certain medications (including antibiotics).

Leukocytes in urine – symptoms

The presence of an excessive amount of white blood cells in the urine may be associated with various symptoms, indicating that your urinary tract is inflamed. These include: discomfort and burning sensation when urinating, pressure on the bladder and more frequent visits to the toilet, fever, chills, abdominal or lower abdominal pain. The urine can also be cloudy, discolored, and have an unpleasant odor – this is called “pyuria.”

Urine leukocytes are measured in a general urine test. A sample of the first urine delivered during the day should be prepared for analysis and delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible. If this is not possible, the sample should be stored in a refrigerator in a special container until urination.

Order a test strip for urinary tract infections, which includes finds leukocytes in urine.

Urine leukocytes – treatment

In order for the level of white blood cells in the urine to return to normal, you must fight the infection that caused the condition. For this purpose, it is necessary to use drugs recommended by a specialist. It may be necessary to take antibiotics and, in severe cases, even hospitalization. In addition, proper personal hygiene and care for the urinary tract are important, including daily washing of intimate places with warm water and a delicate detergent designed for this purpose.

Mopping should be in the right direction – front to back, as is towel mopping. Sexual contact should be avoided until the infection is treated. It is worth taking care of a proper diet and introducing cranberry and low-sugar cranberry juice into it – it will have a positive effect on the condition of the urinary tract. To strengthen the immune system, it is worth eating foods rich in B vitamins and vitamin C.

A home remedy to help heal infections is to drink water with baking soda. This will help restore the urinary system to its proper pH and kill bacteria that is causing the infection. However, each treatment of this type should be consulted with a doctor. Treatment of urinary leukocytes as soon as possible will prevent the condition from worsening and alleviate the unpleasant symptoms associated with the disease.

Leukocytes in the urine of a child – causes

5% of girls and 2% of boys suffer from upper urinary tract infection. The infection usually comes from the outer opening of the urethra. Infections, for example, through the blood or the digestive system are much less frequent. Leukocytes in the child’s urine, which are a symptom of leukocyturia, often result from improper hygiene of the genital organs.

Leukocytes in the urine of a child – symptoms

A child with an excess of white blood cells in the urine feels weak. The most common signs that suggest cystitis include:

1. weakness of the body,
2. pain when urinating,
3. diarrhea and fever
4. stomach pain.

Before we go to the urine leukocyte test, pay attention to the quality of the samples submitted for testing. Occasionally they can become superinfected, making the result false. Before collecting urine, the baby’s perineum should be thoroughly washed. For this purpose, let’s use, for example, water with a mild soap. Particular attention should be paid to the hygiene of the urethral opening. It is advisable to collect only the middle urine stream.

Urine white blood cells should be tested when a child develops a fever for no reason. It is worth going to the doctor immediately. Ignoring the symptoms in some cases will lead to the appearance of a chronic condition. The disease can develop over several years and thus adversely affect a child’s kidneys.

Leukocytes in the urine – the norm

A healthy person has little or no white blood cells in the urine. The permissible norm of leukocytes is from 1 to 5, but their presence suggests that we are dealing with a disease. However, the mere fact of observing the symptoms of leukocyturia is not always a cause for concern. White blood cells in the urine are also found in mild infections. Nevertheless, it is always worth doing the appropriate research.

The norms of white blood cells in the urine are as follows:

1. 0-5 blood cells in the field of view, 0-10 blood cells in centrifuged urine,
2. less than 2,5-5 million leukocytes in daily urine,
3. less than 1500-3000 leukocytes / min in a XNUMX-hour urine collection.
4. less than 8-10 leukocytes in 1 mm3 of urine (fresh sample).

For children, the norms of white blood cells in the urine are:

1. 0-10 blood cells in centrifuged urine,
2. 8-10 leukocytes in 1 mm3 of urine (fresh sample),
3. 0-5 leukocytes in unspent urine (at XNUMX times magnification).

When during the laboratory examination it turns out that the urine contains higher values ​​of white blood cells, we can talk about leukocyturia. However, a consultation with a doctor is needed each time, who will accurately interpret the results. The result of leukocytes in urine of 500 requires in-depth diagnostics.

The rate of leukocytes in the urine

Leukocytes are produced in the bone marrow, from where they enter the blood, where from a week to 20 days they protect the body from viruses and bacteria, and then they die and are removed, including in the urine. In the general analysis of the urine of a healthy man, the microscope will detect no more than 3 leukocytes. In women, there may be a little more leukocytes – up to 6 pieces. More than that is a warning sign. With a sample according to Nechiporenko, the normal level of leukocytes is no more than 2000 cells per 1 ml (up to 4000 cells are allowed in women).

In children, the reference values ​​differ from “adults”. So, for infants, a normal indicator of white blood cells will be up to 8 leukocytes in the field of view of a microscope (for general urinalysis). This number may increase when the baby is teething.

In older children, normal values ​​approach those of adults. To decipher children’s results, there is a special table, according to which the normal number of leukocytes is:

• up to 28 days of life: 5-7 in boys, 8-10 in girls;
• up to a year: 5-6 in boys, 8-9 in girls;
• from a year: 0-5 for boys, 0-6 for girls.

In general, the lower the white blood cell count, the better. The above is a generally accepted scheme for interpreting the results of the level of leukocytes in the general analysis of urine, however, some doctors are sure that any increase in their level above 3 in people of any gender and age is a reason for a thorough examination.

Elevated white blood cells in the urine

Elevated leukocytes – a signal of the inflammatory process. However, false leukocyturia associated with improper collection of biomaterial is often encountered. For a general analysis, an average portion of morning urine is required. Before collecting it, you need to thoroughly wash the external genitalia with water at room temperature, blot the skin. Hot water, active friction, washing with a washcloth can provoke the release of leukocytes and lead to a falsely high result.

There are other physiological reasons that can affect the results of the analysis:

• excessive physical activity;
• frequent visits to the bath;
• insufficient hygiene;
• the use of certain drugs (antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs).

If the collection of biomaterial was performed correctly, and there were no external factors affecting the results, but the level of leukocytes is above normal, then there is an inflammatory process. Moreover, any parts of the urinary tract can become inflamed: the urethra, ureters, bladder, kidneys. Inflammation is often caused by pathogenic microorganisms, which will also be identified in the analysis. If bacteria are found in the urine, antibiotic susceptibility cultures should be done to determine the most effective and safe treatment.

Some of the most common causes of elevated white blood cells in the urine are:

1. A urinary tract infection is the most likely cause of white blood cells in the urine. With any infection, the immune system increases the production of white blood cells to fight the bacteria. More than half of women and about one in five men will experience a UTI in their lifetime. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection: pain or burning when urinating, more frequent urination, pain in the abdomen, back or side, cloudy urine.
2. Urolithiasis disease. Most often, urolithiasis develops in people aged 20-45 years, and men suffer from it 2.5-3 times more often than women. As the stone travels down the ureter, it scratches the surrounding tissue. In response to this damage, more white blood cells are released into the blood.
3. Diabetes. Asymptomatic bacteriuria is more common in people with diabetes.
4. Damage to the glomeruli (glomerulonephritis). In these conditions, the kidneys are damaged and cannot fully perform their functions.
5. Systemic diseases. Inflammatory processes localized in other organs and systems.
6. Venereal and gynecological inflammatory diseases.

Leukocytes come in different groups: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system (monocytes, tissue macrophages, dendritic cells) and lymphocytes. Each type is characteristic of different diseases. An additional urine test will be required to determine the type of leukocyturia.

Decreased white blood cells in the urine

A healthy person has the lowest concentration of leukocytes in the urine. Therefore, there is no such thing as low white blood cells in the urine. A low level of leukocytes in the urine is the norm.

The situation is quite different with a blood test. A low level of white blood cells in the blood may indicate reduced bone marrow function, autoimmune disorders, congenital pathologies, and acute infectious processes.

How do I prepare for a leukocyte urine test?

Care should be taken in the hygiene of the hands and perineum before collecting a urine sample. A urine test for leukocytes can easily be falsified. To avoid this, before collecting urine, wash your hands and perineum and dry them with a disposable towel. The opening of the urethra also requires cleaning. For men, this should be done after the foreskin has been retracted.

For leukocyte urine testing, a midstream urine sample should always be collected. For this purpose, we collect about 50-100 ml of urine into a container that we can buy both at the pharmacy and at the collection point. However, remember not to collect urine from the first stream immediately. Storing urine in a jar etc. is unacceptable as it could distort the test results.

We collect urine in the morning, after at least 4 hours of rest. Doctors, however, recommend that you get 8 hours of sleep before collecting urine. Before the test, avoid sexual contact, alcohol and excessive physical exertion. Women are advised not to test 2 days before and 2 days after menstruation as this could produce false results.

Do a urine test yourself at home. All you need to do is buy the Medonet Market package. General mailing urine test – 10 urine parameters. You will be able to consult your doctor about the results.

Leukocyturia in pregnancy – what does it mean?

Leukocyturia in a pregnant woman is a threat to the baby. If it turns out that her urine contains too many white blood cells, this should not be underestimated. This could be a sign that the woman has nephritis, cystitis, proteinuria, or vaginal mycosis.

In the case of pregnant women, we can talk about leukocyturia when we get a result above 10 in the field of view. It will mean that inflammation has arisen in the urinary system. It should be remembered that it is quite common during pregnancy. To avoid it, you should first of all:

1. drink plenty of water,
2. eat cranberries,
3. drink an infusion of parsley root,
4. do not hold urine.

A pregnant woman who notices symptoms of leukocyturia should immediately see a doctor. These symptoms may include burning sensation in urination and fever. Self-treatment is not recommended. You could end up with a kidney infection. When treating leukocyturia, a specialist may prescribe prescription drugs or an antibiotic.

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