The presence of leukocytes in urine is normal when up to 5 leukocytes are checked per field analyzed or 10,000 leukocytes per ml of urine. However, when a larger amount is identified, this may indicate a urinary or genital infection, in addition to lupus, kidney problems or tumors, for example.
The type 1 urine test, also called SAA, is a very important test to know the overall health of the person, because in addition to controlling the amount of leukocytes in the blood, it also indicates the amount of red blood cells, epithelial cells, the presence of microorganisms and proteins, for example.
Leukocytes in the urine usually appear as a result of certain situations, the main causes being:
Urinary system infections are the main causes of increased leukocytes in the urine, indicating that the immune system is trying to fight a fungal, bacterial or parasitic infection. In addition to the presence of large amounts of leukocytes, it is possible to identify epithelial cells in the urine test and the microorganism responsible for infection.
What to do: In case of infection, it is important for the doctor to order a uroculture, which is also a urine test, but which identifies the microorganism responsible for the infection, and the most appropriate treatment of the situation is recommended. In case of bacterial infection, the use of antibiotics may be indicated if the person has symptoms of infection, such as pain and burns when urinating and the presence of discharge, for example. Learn about the other symptoms of a urinary tract infection.
In the case of a fungal infection, the use of antifungals, such as fluconazole or miconazole for example, is indicated, depending on the identified fungus. In the case of a parasitic infection, the most commonly identified protozoa is Trichomonas sp., which is treated with metronidazole or tinidazole as directed by the doctor.
Kidney problems such as nephritis or kidney stones can also lead to the appearance of leukocytes in the urine, and in these cases crystals may also be observed in the urine and sometimes red blood cells.
What to do: Nephritis and the presence of kidney stones may have characteristic symptoms, such as pain in the lower back, difficulty urinating, and decreased urine, for example. For example, if kidney stones or nephritis are suspected, it is important to see your family doctor or urologist for imaging tests, such as ultrasounds and urine tests. Therefore, your doctor can identify the cause of the increase in the amount of leukocytes in your urine and may initiate the most appropriate treatment.
Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease, a disease in which immune system cells act against the body itself, causing inflammation of the joints, skin, eyes and kidneys. For laboratory tests, it is possible to notice changes in the blood formula and urine test, in which a large amount of leukocytes can be observed in the urine. Learn to recognize lupus.
What to do: To decrease the amount of leukocytes in the urine, it is necessary that the treatment of lupus is performed according to the doctor’s recommendation, it is generally recommended to use certain medications according to the symptoms present by the person, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids or immunosuppressants. Thus, in addition to decreasing the amount of leukocytes in the urine, it is possible to control the symptoms of the disease.
Some medications, such as antibiotics, aspirin, corticosteroids, and diuretics, can also cause leukocytes to appear in your urine.
What to do: The presence of leukocytes in the urine is usually not serious, so if the person is using a drug and the test indicates the presence of large amounts of white blood cells, this may simply be the effect of the drug. It is important that this change is communicated to the doctor, as well as the results of the other aspects present in the urine test, so that the doctor can better analyze the situation.
Sustaining urine for a long time can promote the growth of microorganisms, leading to a urinary tract infection and the appearance of leukocytes in the urine. In addition, when you hold your pee for a long time, your bladder begins to lose strength and cannot be completely emptied, so a certain amount of urine stays inside your bladder and facilitates the proliferation of microorganisms. Understand why it’s bad to urinate.
What to do: In this case, it is important that as soon as the person wants to urinate does so, because it is possible to prevent the accumulation of urine in the bladder and, therefore, microorganisms. In addition, to avoid infections, it is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water a day.
However, if the person wants to urinate but cannot, it is recommended that they see the family doctor or urologist for tests to identify the cause of the problem and begin treatment.
The presence of tumors in the bladder, prostate and kidneys, for example, can also lead to the appearance of leukocytes in the urine, because in these situations, the immune system becomes sensitized. In addition, leukocytes may occur as a result of tumor treatment.
What to do: The presence of leukocytes in the urine is common in cases of cancer affecting the urinary and genital system, and your doctor should monitor the amount of leukocytes in your urine to check for disease progression and response to treatment.
The amount of leukocytes in the urine is controlled during the normal urine test, called SAA, in which urine arriving in the lab undergoes a macro and microscopic test to identify the presence of abnormal elements, such as crystals, epithelial cells, mucus, bacteria. , fungi, parasites, leukocytes and erythrocytes, for example.
In a normal urine test, there are usually 0 to 5 leukocytes per field, and there may be a higher amount in women depending on their age and menstrual cycle phase. When the presence of more than 5 leukocytes per field is checked, it is indicated in the pyuria test, which corresponds to the presence of large amounts of leukocytes in the urine. In such cases, it is important for your doctor to establish a correlation between the pyuria and the results of other urine tests and the result of blood or microbiological tests that your doctor may have requested.
Before performing the microscopic examination, the test strip is performed, which reports certain characteristics of the urine, including the leukyd mat, which is reactive when there are large amounts of leukocytes in the urine. Although it is indicative of pyuria, it is important to indicate the amount of leukocytes, which is verified by microscopic examination. Learn more about how the urine test is performed.