Pyuria (white blood cells in urine): causes and treatments

Pyuria is a term that describes the presence of pus, which is mainly composed of white blood cells, in the urine. Urine generally contains very little or no white blood cells. The most common cause of pyuria is an infection of urinary tract (UTI), but other conditions can also cause it. Pyuria can also occur as a side effect of certain drugs.

Some people with pyuria have no notable symptoms, although others can feel symptoms depending on the underlying cause. Treatment focuses on the fight against the cause of pyuria.

Pyuria is classified according to its results of the underlying cause and urine test, which check the bacteria and white blood cells in the urine.

Non -sterile pyuria

Non -sterile pyuria implies the presence of white blood cells and bacteria in the urine. It is generally the sign of a urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infection can cause pyuria, but having non -sterile pyuria does not necessarily mean that you have a urinary tract infection.

Sterile pyuria

Sterile pyuria means that there are white blood cells in your urine, but no clear sign of bacteria causing an infection. This can happen for several reasons, such as taking certain drugs or having non -infectious conditions such as kidney stones, kidney diseases or diabetes. Some people with sterile pyuria may still have an infection, including sexually transmitted infections (IST).

Due to the presence of white blood cells, pyuria can cause notable changes in the urine, which makes it cloudy with a strong or foul odor.

Because pyuria is a sign of an infection or an underlying condition, symptoms may vary considerably depending on the cause. Symptoms of conditions which generally cause pyuria, such as urinary tract infections, kidney stones or underlying conditions such as tuberculosis, may include:

• Pressure, pain or cramps at the bottom of the abdomen or back
• Frequent urination
• Pain or burning sensation with urination
• Fever
• Flank pain (discomfort behind your back, your side or your pelvic area)
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Blood in your urine (hematuria)
• Fatigue

Pyuria occurs when excess white globules are present in the urine. White blood cells are part of the immune system and help to detect and fight against bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and other irritants causing inflammation or infection. With pyuria, your body sends white blood cells to urinary tract in response to infection or inflammation.

The most common cause of pyuria is an infection of the urinary tract (UTI), which occurs when bacteria enter the urinary tract by the urethra and multiply in the bladder or other parts of the urinary system. This encourages your immune system to send white blood cells to combat infection.

In sterile pyuria, white blood cells are present in urine without detectable bacteria. Certain potential causes of sterile pyuria may include:

• Sexually transmitted infections (IST), such as chlamydia and gonorrhea
• Kidney stones
• Genito-Urinary Tuberculosis
• Medicines, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), inhibitors of the proton pump (PPI) and diuretics (water pills)
• Radiotherapy in the pelvic or genital region
• Parasitic and fungal infections
• Renal polycystosis
• Kawasaki disease
• Diabetes
• Lupus erythematosus (LED)
• Tumor in urinary tract
• Pregnancy

Risk factors

Anyone can develop pyuria and associated conditions, but certain factors may increase the risk. These include:

• Sex: Women and people affected by women at birth (AFAB) are more likely to develop urinary tract infections. Urinary infections are more frequent in women because their urethras are shorter and closer to the anus, which facilitates trips for bladder bacteria. Hormonal changes, such as during pregnancy or menopause, and sexual activity also increases the risk.
• Underlying conditions: People suffering from certain conditions, such as diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, kidney stones or autoimmune conditions such as lupus and Kawasaki disease have an increased risk of pyuria.
• Age: Older adults can be at an increased risk of CUD due to age -related changes in their immune system.
• Recent medical procedures: Recently, the use of a catheter to drain urine or undergo surgeries from the abdominal or genital region can introduce bacteria in urinary tract and increase your risk of pyuria.

The diagnosis of pyuria is to identify white blood cells in your urine and determine the underlying cause. Your health professional will examine your medical history and ask you about your symptoms. They will probably order diagnostic tests to confirm pyuria and determine the cause.

Urine analysis (urine test) can help your health care provider detect and measure the amount of white blood cells in your urine. Health care providers generally diagnose pyuria when there are 10 white or more globules per microliter (µl) of urine or more than three white blood cells observed under a high -power microscope field.

To determine what causes pyuria, your health professional can order additional tests, such as:

• Urine culture: This test identifies specific bacteria or fungi causing an infection.
• Blood tests: A blood sample can help your health care provider check and measure inflammation and infection markers and assess your kidney function.
• Imaging tests: Such as ultrasound and computed tomography analyzes (CT), help visualize your kidneys, your bladder and other internal structures and organs to detect structural differences, kidney stones or other anomalies.

Pyuria treatment focuses on the fight against the underlying cause to relieve symptoms, reduce inflammation and irritation in urinary tract. The processing approach may depend on whether your pyuria is sterile or non -sterile.

Prescription drugs

If a urinary tract infection causes pyuria, your health care provider will likely prescribe antibiotics to eliminate bacteria and erase infection. Antibiotics can also treat sexually transmitted infections which can cause pyuria, including chlamydia and gonorrhea.

Otherwise, antifungal drugs can be used to treat fungal infections in urinary tract. Anti-inflammatory drugs can treat interstitial cystitis or other inflammatory causes.

If your health care provider suspects that a medication you take causes pyuria, he may ask you to stop taking the medication or prescribing another.

Medical procedures

If the kidney stones cause pyuria and the stones are too large to pass or that they block the flow of the urine, a surgical withdrawal may be necessary. Lithotripsia with shock waves is a non -invasive treatment that uses powerful sound waves to divide the stone into small pieces, which facilitates them through urine.

The ureteroscopy consists in inserting a thin telescope through the ureter (a tube that pees outside your body) to eliminate or break the stone. A procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy Or nephrolithtripsis may be necessary for the largest stones. These procedures consist of making a small incision in the back and inserting a thin tube into your kidney to eliminate or break the stone into small pieces before removing it.

It may not always be possible to prevent pyuria, but certain lifestyle that support your health of urinary tract can help reduce your risk of infections and other causes of pyuria. These lifestyle strategies include:

• Stay hydrated: Drink a lot of water to help eliminate bacteria and lower your risk of service faculties. Hydration can also help prevent kidney stones.
• Practice good hygiene: Keeping your genitals clean after using the bathroom can reduce your risk of UTI. For those who have a vulva, this involves wiping back and forth to avoid spreading the anus bacteria to the urethra.
• Urinate after sexual activity: Peeing after sexual activity helps prevent bacteria from entering the urethra.
• Manage chronic conditions: Follow your treatment plan for underlying conditions such as diabetes, which can increase your risk of pyuria.
• Empty your bladder: Uriner when you feel the desire to go, rather than maintaining it, can help reduce your risk of utor that causes pyuria.

The conditions that cause pyuria generally require treatment. Without treatment, complications can develop. These may include:

• Renal infections (pyelonephritis): Untreated infections in your lower urinary tract can move to the kidneys, causing significant pain, fever and potential renal lesions.
• Sepsis: In serious cases, untreated infections can enter the blood circulation, causing a potentially fatal systemic response known as sepsis.
• Dysfunction of the bladder: Persistent or recurring urinary tract infections can weaken your function of the bladder over time, leading to incontinence (loss of bladder control).

Pyuria, the presence of white blood cells in your urine, is often the sign of an underlying problem such as an infection of urinary tract or inflammation in the urinary system due to kidney stones or other conditions. Current symptoms include cloudy or nauseating urine, painful urination and frequent desires to urinate. Urine analysis (urine test) can diagnose pyuria and help identify its cause.

Treatment focuses on the fight against the deep cause, such as antibiotics for infections or other therapies for non -infectious causes. Staying hydrated and practicing good hygiene can help reduce your risk of unce and pyuria. Talk to a health care provider if you feel painful urination, cloudy urine or abdominal or back pain.