Any doctor will say that if the leukocytes in the urine are elevated, then something in the body is not in order. Below is a detailed description of what kind of problems may be accompanied by such a symptom.
What are white blood cells?
Leukocytes 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 leukocytes: some of them penetrate the focus of infection and destroy it, others produce antibodies. If the number of foreign bodies is large, then these transparent bodies swell and then disintegrate, forming the well-known pus.
Leukocyte count in urine
How to understand that leukocytes in the urine are elevated? It is clear that you need to take a urine test and compare the results with generally accepted medical standards. And what are these same norms? For children and adults they are different. In addition, there are gender differences. So, in the urine of a man, approximately 3 cells of leukocytes (no more) can be contained in the field of view, for a woman this norm is 5-6 cells. Concerningboys, then the allowable value is 2 cells, and in girls their urine may contain 3. But if the leukocytes in the urine are slightly increased during pregnancy, this is considered normal, since at this stage the number of such cells can increase to 7 -8, which is due to some hormonal changes.
Reasons for increased levels of leukocytes in urine
For what reasons can leukocytes in the urine be increased? The main ones are listed below.
1. Urinary system infections such as cystitis.
2. Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) can also trigger leukocytosis, that is, an increase in the number of white blood cells in the urine.
3. The presence of foreign bodies in the urinary tract, which led to inflammation.
4. Trauma or tumor of the excretory system can also lead to increased levels of white blood cells in the urine.
5. Kidney or gallstones.
6. Retention of urine. Because of this, the bladder will become weak and will begin to empty when urinating incompletely. The urine will remain inside, harmful bacteria will multiply in it, and inflammation will begin.
7. If the leukocytes in the urine of a child are elevated, then this may be due to the fact that the rules of personal hygiene are not observed, the baby touches the genitals with dirty hands.
8. If the tests are not collected correctly, the number of leukocytes in the urine may be elevated (but not too much).
What to do?
If the tests showed that the levelleukocytes in the urine is increased, then first you need to retake the analysis, since laboratory tests do not always give an accurate result (probably urine was collected or stored without observing certain conditions). If repeated tests revealed an increase, then the doctor should prescribe treatment. If an infection is present, antibiotics will likely be appropriate.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can add that an increase in the level of leukocytes in the urine is a signal of he alth problems, in particular, the presence of an infection. Therefore, the problem requires an immediate solution. But self-medication is unacceptable, you should consult a doctor!
