Pregnancy is the biggest transition in a woman's life. This is the time when she experiences many emotional and physiological changes. Some of these physical and mental changes cause several symptoms that range from minor to very dangerous. To keep track of these changes, routine blood tests and urine tests are a must. These tests are done at every prenatal appointment.
Because urine is a clear indicator of maternal and child he alth, small changes in urine can certainly mean a lot. The number of leukocytes in the urine of a pregnant woman is especially important. Many women in labor have an increase in their number in urine. There are several common reasons that lead to this pathology in the body of the expectant mother.
What are white blood cells?
Leukocyte is the technical name for white blood cells. They are the basis for immune responses that protect people from infection. Elevated leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy is a common phenomenon and occurs in more than halfwomen who are expecting a baby.
These white blood cells are involved in a number of processes, including phagocytes and lymphocytes.
Phagocytes are produced in the bone marrow. Their task is to absorb foreign particles such as bacteria. This manifests itself in the environment of the particle, its internalization and destruction.
Lymphocytes - cells that recognize foreign particles based on previous encounters, make up "adaptive" immunity. This is the complex ability of the immune system to remember an infection and trigger more specific responses to it.
Lymphocytes also produce antibodies that bind to foreign particles so they can be recognized for destruction.
There are other types of white blood cells. For example, cytotoxic white blood cells have the ability to kill other cells.
What do high white blood cells in urine mean?
The presence of elevated white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy may mean inflammation in the bladder or kidneys.
However, the presence of some white blood cells does not always mean infection. The level must be high. The urine sample must also be taken carefully, because contamination can occur, for example, from the genitals.
Leukocytes and nitrites
When doctors use a level test, they detect certain chemicals. The norm of leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy is a maximum of 6 units.
Chemical test strips can collect substances known as leukocyte esterase and nitrite inurine. Both of these are potential indicators of infection.
The presence of nitrite in the urine is very specific to a bacterial infection. However, this does not mean that there will be no bacteria at all.
If there is no leukocyte esterase in the urine, infection is unlikely.
What are white blood cells in urine without nitrite?
If the test for leukocytes is positive, and for nitrites - negative, then this means the presence of an infection in the body. What do white blood cells in urine mean during pregnancy without nitrite?
The reason for this is specific nitrite restrictions. This means that it can accurately identify a bacterial infection. However, it is not very sensitive, which means that not all bacterial infections can be detected.
If leukocytes in the urine are found without nitrite, this can also mean a false positive result. This is an indicator that suggests a bacterial infection when it actually isn't. In this case, further lab tests can be performed.
The presence of white blood cells in the urine does not always mean that there is an infection in the body of a pregnant woman. If there are white blood cells but no nitrite, the test may be negative.
This mostly happens when there is another reason for inflammation in the urinary tract, or in women who may have leukocytes in the urine from their genital canal at the time of sampling.
Before testing, thoroughly wash the genitals, preferably without soap or other detergents.
For diagnosis, it is necessary to start sampling from the middleurination. The original amount of urine that comes out may be contaminated and therefore should not be captured.
Pregnancy tests often include a urinalysis, which can detect the presence of white blood cells, as well as red blood cells and substances such as glucose and protein. The causes of white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy are usually the same as in non-pregnant women. The most common culprits are urinary tract and genital infections.
Various reasons
White blood cells or leukocytes are important immune system cells that protect the body from all kinds of infections and foreign materials. The presence of white blood cells in the urine is a sign of inflammation and one or more types of infection.
Reasons for an increase in white blood cells during pregnancy
Here are some of the causes of elevated white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy, which may contribute to the increase:
Urinary tract disease. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in women of childbearing age. Although a UTI is usually a relatively minor problem for a non-pregnant woman, the development of the disease while expecting a baby is more associated with possible complications for both the mother and her unborn child
Lower urinary tract disease. Lower urinary tract infection refers to an infection limited to the bladder. Commonly known as a bladder infection or cystitis, it has symptoms associated withlower UTIs and limited to increased urgency and frequency, and urinary pain
Upper urinary tract disease. Pregnancy causes changes in a woman's urinary tract that increase the chance that bacteria in the bladder will move up and infect one or both kidneys. This is a condition known as upper UTI or pyelonephritis
High WBC symptoms
Typically, the disease presents with symptoms of a bladder infection along with additional signs including:
- Fever and chills.
- Pain in the side (in the back below the chest).
- Intermittent abdominal pain.
- Nausea with or without vomiting.
- General feeling of weakness.
Asymptomatic bacteriuria
Asymptomatic bacteriuria means the presence of bacteria in the urine, often with white blood cells, but without any symptoms associated with an upper or lower UTI. Although the condition is often harmless in non-pregnant women, asymptomatic bacteriuria often progresses to pyelonephritis if left untreated.
Genital infection
Genital infection during pregnancy can potentially lead to white blood cells in the urine. When one or more of these infections is present, vaginal and external genital secretions containing white blood cells are often mixed with urine when the sample is collected. Examples of genital infections that can lead to white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy areinclude:
- Chlamydia.
- Vaginal yeast infection.
- Bacterial vaginitis.
- Gonorrhea.
- Genital herpes.
Precautions
Pregnant women usually experience increased vaginal secretion, which often contains white blood cells, even if they do not have a genital infection. By cleaning their external genitalia with a hygienic wipe before collecting a urine sample, they avoid possible contamination from vaginal secretions.
When washing before taking the test, you need to ensure that the discharge does not fall into the container, otherwise the protein and leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy will be higher than normal.
Even if there are no white blood cells in the urine, doctors recommend screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria with a urine culture between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of kidney infection, preterm birth and other possible complications. Treatment significantly reduces the risk of these complications. Talk to your OB/GYN about the frequency of urinary leukocytes, especially if you have diabetes, a history of UTI pregnancies, or other urinary tract problems.
If you experience any symptoms of bladder, kidney or genital disease, contact your pregnancy doctor immediately. Early diagnosis and treatment minimizes the risk of possible complications for the mother and unborn child.
Treatment
Due to dangermaternal and fetal complications, emergency care should focus on identifying and treating asymptomatic and symptomatic bacteriuria and ensuring that an alternative process is not causing symptoms.
Treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women is important because of the increased risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) and associated complications. Care may include:
- Introduction of appropriate substances.
- Introducing fluids if the patient is dehydrated.
- Take antibiotics if there are any signs of a complicated UTI.
Recommendations
Tips that can be used to promote good hygiene and reduce bacterial contamination of the urethra help prevent inadequate treatment and recurrent infection. Recommendations include the following:
- Avoid baths.
- Wipe the genitals from the abdomen to the back, after urinating or defecation.
- Wash your hands before going to the toilet.
- Use washcloths to clean the crotch.
- Use liquid soap to prevent bacterial growth.
Antibiotic therapy
Oral antibiotics are an effective treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria and cystitis. Suitable oral regimens include the following:
- "Cephalexin" - 500 mg 4 times a day.
- "Ampicillin" - 500 mg 4 times a day.
- "Nitrofurantoin" - 100mg twice daily.
- "Sulfizoxazole" - 1 g 4 times a day.
How to get rid of white blood cells in urine without antibiotics
If your white blood cell count is high during pregnancy and is caused by bacteria, here are some natural ways to lower it without using antibiotics:
- Drink plenty of water. This helps to reject bacteria. Eight glasses a day is the optimal dose for withdrawal. Add fresh lemon or lime for a flavor boost and help with detox.
- To relieve pain from high temperatures (inflammation and irritation from a UTI can leave a woman with pressure and pain around the pubic area or lower back), heat therapy is needed. Place the heated pillow for about 10-15 minutes.
Folk methods
Folk treatments include:
- Getting more vitamin C: Found in berries (like cranberries), citrus fruits, melons, and cabbage, this vitamin can help balance the acidity of your urine, which helps maintain a he althy urinary tract.
- Eat yogurt: A popular dairy product loaded with probiotics.
- Step away from irritants: It's time to focus on he alth, so we need to remove things that can irritate the bladder. Caffeine, nicotine, spicy foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and those artificial sweeteners that are not good for humans. Eating more high-fiber carbohydrates like grains and he althy fats like nuts and olive oil are all good fordigestion.
- Parsley Water: This natural diuretic helps cleanse the urinary system.
- More Blueberries: They contain ingredients that may work to prevent and treat UTIs.
These tips will not only help treat any infection, but also reduce the risk of infection. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the causes of leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy and, together with a gynecologist, select the necessary safe treatment.
