High leukocytes in urine: what can be and what to do

The presence of leukocytes in the urine is normal when the presence of up to 5 leukocytes per analyzed field or 10, 000 leukocytes per ml of urine is verified. However, when a higher amount is identified, it can be indicative of infection in the urinary or genital system, in addition to lupus, kidney problems or tumors, for example.

The type 1 urine test, also called EAS, is a very important test to know the general state of health of the person, because in addition to checking the amount of leukocytes in the blood, it also indicates the amount of red blood cells, epithelial cells, presence of microorganisms and proteins, for example.

Main causes of leukocytes in urine

Leukocytes in urine usually appear as a consequence of some situations, the main causes being:

1. Infection

Infections of the urinary system are the main causes of the increase in leukocytes in the urine, which indicates 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 the infection.

What to do: In the case of infection, it is important that the doctor requests urine culture, which is also a urine test, but which identifies the microorganism responsible for the infection, and the most appropriate treatment for the situation is recommended. In the case of infection by bacteria, the use of antibiotics may be indicated if the person shows symptoms of infection, such as pain and burning when urinating and the presence of discharge, for example. Know other symptoms of urinary tract infection.

In the case of fungal infection, the use of antifungals, such as Fluconazole or Miconazole, for example, according to the identified fungus, is indicated. In the case of parasite infection, the most frequently identified protozoan is Trichomonas sp ., Which is treated with Metronidazole or Tinidazole according to the doctor's guidance.

2. Kidney problem

Kidney problems such as nephritis or kidney stones can also lead to the appearance of leukocytes in the urine, in which case the presence of crystals in the urine and, sometimes, red blood cells, can also be noticed.

What to do: Both nephritis and the presence of kidney stones can have characteristic symptoms, such as pain in the back, difficulty in peeing and decreased urine, for example. Thus, in the case of suspected kidney stones or nephritis, it is important to go to the general practitioner or urologist so that imaging tests, such as ultrasound, and urine tests are indicated. Thus, the doctor can identify the cause of the increase in the amount of leukocytes in the urine and can start the most appropriate treatment.

3. Lupus Erythematosus

Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease, that is, a disease in which the cells of the immune system act against the body itself, causing inflammation in the joints, skin, eyes and kidneys. Regarding laboratory tests, it is possible to notice changes in the blood count and in the urine test, in which a large amount of leukocytes can be observed in the urine. Learn how to recognize lupus.

What to do: To decrease the amount of leukocytes in the urine, it is necessary that the treatment for lupus be done according to the doctor's recommendation, it is usually recommended to use some medications according to the symptoms presented by the person, such as anti- inflammatory, 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.

4. Use of medicines

Some medications, such as antibiotics, aspirin, corticosteroids and diuretics, for example, can also lead to the appearance of leukocytes in the urine.

What to do: The presence of leukocytes in the urine is usually not serious, so if the person is using any medication and the test indicates the presence of significant amounts of leukocytes, it may just be the effect of the medicine. It is important that this change is communicated to the doctor, as well as the result of the other aspects present in the urine test, so that the doctor can better analyze the situation.

5. Holding the pee

Holding the pee for a long time can favor the growth of microorganisms, resulting in a urinary infection and leading to the appearance of leukocytes in the urine. In addition, when holding the pee for a long time, the bladder begins to lose strength and cannot be emptied completely, causing some amount of urine to remain inside the bladder and easier proliferation of microorganisms. Understand why holding pee is bad.

What to do: In this case, it is important that as soon as the person feels the urge to pee, do it, because this way it is possible to prevent the accumulation of urine in the bladder and, consequently, of microorganisms. In addition, to prevent infections from happening, it is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water daily.

However, if the person feels like peeing but cannot, it is recommended that they go to the general practitioner or urologist so that tests can be carried out to identify the cause of the problem and treatment is started.

6. Cancer

The presence of tumors in the bladder, prostate and kidneys, for example, can also lead to the appearance of leukocytes in the urine, since in these situations the immune system is sensitized. In addition, the presence of leukocytes may arise as a consequence of the treatment performed against the tumors.

What to do: The presence of leukocytes in the urine is common in cases of cancer that affect the urinary and genital system, and the doctor must monitor the amount of leukocytes in the urine in order to check the progression of the disease and response to treatment.

How to know the amount of leukocytes in urine

The amount of leukocytes in the urine is checked during the normal urine test, called EAS, in which the urine that arrives at the laboratory undergoes macro and microscopic analysis to identify the presence of abnormal elements, such as crystals, epithelial cells, mucus, bacteria, fungi, parasites, leukocytes and red blood cells, for example.

In a normal urine test, 0 to 5 leukocytes are usually found per field, and there may be a greater amount in women according to their age and phase of the menstrual cycle. When the presence of more than 5 leukocytes per field is verified, it is indicated in the pyuria test, which corresponds to the presence of large amounts of leukocytes in the urine. In these cases it is important that the doctor correlates pyuria with other findings of the urine test and with the result of blood or microbiological tests that may have been requested by the doctor.

Before the microscopic examination is performed, the test strip is performed, in which some characteristics of the urine are reported, including leukocyte esterase, which is reactive when there is a large amount of leukocytes in the urine. Despite being indicative of pyuria, it is important that the amount of leukocytes is indicated, which is verified through microscopic examination. Find out more about how the urine test is done.