Any doctor will say that if the white blood cells in the urine are elevated, then something in the body is not in order. Below is a detailed description of exactly which problems may be accompanied by such a symptom.
What are white blood cells?
White blood cells are special bodies that are present in the human body and perform a special function in it - they protect against various infections. There are different white blood cells: some of them penetrate into the focus of infection and destroy it, while others produce antibodies. If the number of foreign bodies is large, then these transparent bodies swell and then disintegrate, forming pus known to all.
The rate of white blood cells in urine
How to understand that
leukocytes in the urine are elevated? It is clear that you need to pass a urinalysis and compare the results with the norms generally accepted in medicine. But what are these very norms? For children and adults, they are different. In addition, there are differences in gender. So, a man’s urine can contain about 3 cells of leukocytes (no more) in the
field of view, for a woman this norm is 5-6 cells. As for boys, the permissible value is 2 cells, and in girls they may contain 3 in the urine. But if the
white blood cells in the urine are slightly increased
during pregnancy, this is considered normal, since at this stage the number of such cells may increase up to 7-8, which is associated with some hormonal changes.
Causes of an increase in white blood cell count in urine
For what reasons can leukocytes in urine be elevated? The main ones are listed below.
1. Urinary tract infections, such as cystitis.
2. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) can also cause leukocytosis, that is, an increase in the number of leukocytes in the urine.
3. The presence of foreign bodies in the genitourinary tract, which led to inflammation.
4. Injury or swelling of the organs of the excretory system can also lead to increased white blood cells in the urine.
5. Kidney or gall bladder stones.
6. Urinary retention. Because of this, the bladder will become weak and not completely empty when urinating. The urine will remain inside, harmful bacteria will begin to multiply in it, and inflammation will begin.
7. If the white blood cells in the urine of a child are elevated, this may be due to the fact that personal hygiene rules are not followed, the baby touches the genitals with dirty hands.
8. If the tests are not collected correctly, the number of white blood cells in the urine may be increased (but not too much).
What to do?
If the tests showed that the level of leukocytes in the urine is increased, then first you need to retake the analysis, since laboratory tests do not always give the exact result (the urine was probably collected or stored without observing certain conditions). If repeated tests revealed an increase, then the doctor should prescribe treatment. If there is an infection, then most likely it will be advisable to take antibiotics.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can add that an increase in the level of white blood cells in the urine is a signal about health problems, in particular, about the presence of infection. Therefore, the problem requires an immediate solution. But self-medication is unacceptable, you should consult a doctor!