Leukocytes are another term used for white blood cells. These cells are an integral part of our body’s immune system. Their main function is to fight off germs and protect our bodies against diseases or illnesses.
The normal quantity of white blood cells in the urine is from 0 to 5 WBCs per high power field (wbc/hpf).
You will sometimes have a very minor level of white blood cells in your urine even though you have no infections and is a healthy person.
However if a test indicated that your WBC levels in urine are above 5 wbc/hpf, most certainly it might indicate an infection.
In some cases, it might also indicate inflammation along the urinary tract or in the bladder. The presence of white blood cells in abnormally large levels is called leukocyturia.
Conditions That Can Cause Leukocytes In Urine
Several conditions can cause leukocytes in urine. Some of them are listed below:
💠 Urinary Tract Infection
Infections in urinary tracts and blockages along the path might result in an increased amount of WBC in urine. These infections occur when harmful microbes enter the urethra into the urinary tract and form there, these microbes might travel to the bladder and multiply. The body will release WBCs as a response to this infection.
💠 Kidney Stones
The stones formed in the kidneys can travel to the urinary tract. This might cause a blockage to smooth flowing of urine. These blockages can spike the leukocyte production and hence patients with kidney stones might see a higher rate of leukocytes in their urine.
💠 Sterile Pyuria
This is a particular condition where a high number of white blood cells are observed in the urine but without any signs of infection. The presence of 10 leukocytes per millimeter cube of urine is declared as pyuria. There are infectious and non-infectious causes of this condition.
💠 Urinary Retention
Not peeing at necessary intervals might have serious effects on the body. Holding urine for longer periods might cause the muscles of the bladder to weaken. This might result in urinary retention. This condition might affect your capacity to relieve completely.
The amount of urine left in the bladder might act as a breeding ground for microbes causing an infection. And this might increase the number of white blood cells in urine.
💠 Inflammation
Inflammation can be caused due to injuries, infection, or diseases. And this will set off the release of white blood cells in the body. Conditions like interstitial nephritis and cystitis might cause inflammation in your urinary tract.
Doctors will suggest you do various exams with your urine sample to diagnose white blood cells in your urine. Here is a list of usual examinations done to determine the levels of leukocytes.
💠 Visual Examination
Healthcare professionals will examine your freshly collected urine sample and check its appearance.
Any abnormalities in urine like an unusual odor or cloudy color or discoloration will be further sent for examination.
Cloudy urine often indicates the presence of blood cells or bacteria in the urine sample.
If blood is found in the collected urine sample then your physician might suggest you do more results to identify the underlying condition that is causing bloody urine.
💠 Microscopic Examination
As the name suggests, the urine sample will be examined under a microscope. The healthcare professional will examine a few drops of the urine sample under the microscope. If they found any leukocytes, then it might indicate an infection
💠 Leukocytes Esterase Urine Test / Dipstick Test
A Leukocytes esterase urine test is performed to diagnose the presence of white blood cells or any other signs of infection. This test is to be conducted on a clean catch urine sample.
This method will reduce the chances of germs entering the sample through the contact with penis and vagina. Follow the instructions given by the professionals.
The urine sample is sent right away to perform the tests. They will use a dipstick that is made with a color-sensitive material. The color changes will act as the indicator to denote any abnormalities.
The treatment for high levels of white blood cells in urine is decided only by its underlying cause. Your medical practitioner will guide you through the right treatments with the diagnosis they inferred.