White blood cells in the urine are elevated - causes in women

White blood cells are white blood cells, they are responsible for the functioning of the human immune system. There are several types that differ in the type of action. Elevated leukocytes in the urine may indicate pathologies of the urinary system and kidneys, genital infections, or problems in endocrine regulation. In addition, a slight leukocyturia is observed when bearing a child or after perineum herbs. To determine the indicator of white blood cells in urine, a general urine test, which is given at the clinic, will help. If the doctor reveals a deviation from the norm, he will prescribe further examination and treatment, which will depend on the diagnosis.

Causes of an increase in white blood cells in urine in women

Depending on the number of leukocytes that are visible in the field of view, there are two types of their increase:

1. Leukocyturia - the number of white cells from 7 to 60 pieces;
2. Pyuria - more than 60 leukocytes in one field of view, this condition is characterized by the presence of pus in the urine and indicates a severe infection of the internal organs.

Immune cells in the urine can increase for the following pathological reasons in women:

• Kidney infection: glomerulonephritis (leukocyturia), pyelonephritis (a more significant increase is pyuria, in addition, a large number of bacteria are observed), abscess, hydronephrosis.
• The presence of calculi in the genitourinary system.
• Oncology with renal localization, tumors of the urinary tract.
• Inflammation of the urinary system - cystitis (damage to the bladder) and urethritis (inflammation of the channel through which urine goes out - the urethra).
• The pathologies that are transmitted during sexual intercourse are herpes, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis. With such infections, a specific pathogen is also determined in the urine - each disease has its own pathogen.
• Systemic allergy.
• Inflammation of the female genital organs - colpitis, vulvitis, cervicitis.
• Fungal infection of the mucous membrane of the vagina is candidiasis. In urine, not only leukocytosis is determined, but also a large number of fungi and a white precipitate.
• The presence of parasites in the body.

In addition, there are a number of physiological reasons for an increase in white blood cells in the urine when the condition is not considered pathological:

• Pregnancy and the period of feeding the baby.
• Some medications include diuretics, anti-TB drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunosuppressants.
• Recently transferred inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary organs - in this case, the concentration of leukocytes may still not have time to return to normal after recovery.

Also, an increased result may come when a woman does not follow the rules of intimate hygiene.

As a result, flora, acidity changes in the vagina and white blood cells appear. During the collection of urine for analysis, part of the vaginal discharge may fall into the jar, as a result, leukocyturia will be determined in the laboratory.

If leukocyturia or pyuria is detected, the doctor must prescribe additional examinations, determine the cause and prescribe the correct treatment. Do not delay with therapy, since a long inflammatory process in the body leads to complications. In addition, the transition of the acute form of the disease into a chronic one is possible, which is fraught with frequent relapses.

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Causes of leukocyturia during pregnancy and after childbirth

When a girl carries a child, various changes and rearrangements constantly occur in her body under the influence of hormones. In this regard, leukocytes in the urine may appear and slightly increase during pregnancy. But if this condition lasts a long time, the concentration of white cells increases or active white blood cells appear, additional examinations are urgently needed. Since this indicates the presence of a focus of inflammation, pyelonephritis is especially common in pregnant women.

Postpartum leukocyturia is a normal occurrence if the white blood cell concentration is slightly higher than normal. Most often, cells enter the urine not from the urinary tract, but from the vagina of the woman in labor. Together with them, the presence of red blood cells is determined. This is due to the difficulty of taking material for analysis, since after delivery, women still have bloody discharge for several weeks.

If leukocyturia is accompanied by any other symptoms - headache, weakness, malaise, back pain, frequent urination, fever, etc. - this indicates the presence of a pathological process in the body that requires treatment.

Symptoms of increased importance

By itself, leukocyturia is not accompanied by any symptoms, except that against the background of the inflammatory process, body temperature can rise.

The main clinical picture is given by a disease that provokes an increase in white blood cells:

• Pyelonephritis - manifested by general malaise, lower back pain from the affected kidney, slight hyperthermia. In urine pyuria, protein, a lot of bacteria are detected, sometimes blood - red blood cells.
• Glomerulonephritis - accompanied by swelling, increased pressure. In the urine, protein, leukocyturia are significantly increased, bacteria are usually absent.
• Stones - while the calculus leaves the kidneys, the patient feels severe pain in the lower back, which radiates to the groin and leg. He cannot lie calmly, constantly throws himself in bed. In the analysis of urine, leukocytes, red blood cells and salt crystals are determined.
• Cystitis, urethritis - frequent urges to empty the bladder, burning sensation and pain during and after urination. In urine - white blood cells, bacteria, pus.
• Generalized allergy - there are signs of an allergic reaction: itching, rash, swelling, anaphylactic shock.
• Vulvitis, colpitis - unpleasant odor, severe itching. In this case, white blood cells do not enter the urine from the urinary tract, but from the genitals of a woman.

The appearance in the urine of leukocytes after taking medications does not seem to manifest itself. The patient feels absolutely normal, and the deviation can only be determined by analyzing the urine.

When appointed and how to pass the analysis

The number of white blood cells, red blood cells, bacteria, protein, crystals is determined during a general urine test. Such an analysis is prescribed for any honey. examination, as well as at almost every visit to the doctor. The data obtained in the laboratory will help a specialist determine which direction to move in order to make a correct diagnosis.

In order for the result to be the most accurate, it is important to know how to properly collect urine for analysis:

1. You need to buy a special container for urine, which is sold in a pharmacy. It is hermetically sealed and will not allow the contents to spill.
2. Material is collected for research in the morning, immediately after sleep.
3. Before writing in a jar, a woman should thoroughly wash herself so that the vaginal secretion does not enter the urine.
4. The first few milliliters of urine must be flushed down the toilet, then substitute the container and collect about 100 ml of liquid. After that, empty the bladder to the end already past the jar.
5. Close the lid with the material for analysis and deliver it to the laboratory within 2 hours.

It is allowed to submit the analysis at other times of the day, when the result must be obtained immediately. It is important that the patient does not visit the toilet at least 2-3 hours before taking the material.

How to treat an increased number of white bodies

Treatment depends on the cause that caused the appearance of leukocyturia. Only an experienced specialist can determine it and choose the right medicine, so do not self-medicate, since this can only lead to a worsening of the condition.

• In bacterial infections, antibiotics are used that are applied locally (vaginal suppositories, bladder rinse) and injected or in pill form; drugs such as ceftriaxone, ampicillin, tetracycline are popular.
• For the treatment of viral infection, antiviral drugs are used, as well as symptomatic treatment.
• Allergic conditions are removed with the help of antihistamines - Suprastin, Diphenhydramine.
• Tumor formations are treated surgically using radiation and chemical therapies.

Minor leukocyturia during pregnancy and the postpartum period does not require treatment, you should only monitor the dynamics of changes.

If there is an increase in white blood cells in the urine after taking the medicine, the doctor will reduce the dosage or pick up analogues.

Preventative measures

The presence of white blood cells in the urine most often indicates inflammation of the internal organs.

To avoid the disease, you need to follow a few rules:

• Lead a healthy lifestyle, temper the body.
• Avoid hypothermia (dress warmly, do not stay in the cold for a long time, do not walk with wet feet).
• Follow the rules of personal and intimate hygiene.
• Visit doctors regularly and treat acute and chronic pathologies.
• Do not burden the kidneys with harmful food, medicines, alcohol.

The rate of white blood cells in urine in women, table

The rate of leukocytes in the urine of women can vary slightly depending on the age and condition of the patient.

Age	White blood cell count in urine
0-18 years old, not pregnant	0 to 7 in sight
Over 18 years old, not pregnant	0 - 5 pieces in one field of view
Under 18 years old, pregnant	0 - 12 pieces
Over 18 years old, pregnant	0 to 10 white blood cells in sight