Pyuria: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Pathogenic bacteria in the urine

What is Pyuria?

Pyuria is a disorder that affects the urine tract and is associated with white blood cells. A test of your urine can provide your physician with the necessary information to diagnose this illness.

If there are at least 10 white blood cells present in each cubic millimeter of urine, your medical professional will diagnose you with pyuria. This is frequently a sign of infection. In contrast, tests conducted on patients with sterile pyuria reveal continuous white cell numbers in the absence of bacterial infection.

This condition can have a wide variety of origins and can be treated in a variety of ways. Find out more information about pyuria, including how it can be treated and how it can be avoided.

Also, Pyuria is a symptom that indicates inflammation inside the urinary system and can be brought on by a wide variety of conditions in addition to infections. Pyuria can occur even in the absence of an infection if there are underlying abnormalities present, such as those associated with severe UTI, prostatitis, urethritis due to chlamydial infection, inflammation following a surgical treatment, or with an indwelling device.

Symptoms

Symptoms that associates with pyuria might vary greatly depending on the underlying cause of the disorder. For instance, if you have pyuria because of a urinary tract infection (UTI), you may also feel discomfort when you urinate, have a burning feeling when you urinate, and find yourself going to the bathroom more often than usual. Cloudy urine, a putrid odor, an increase in the number of times a person needs to urinate. Also a discomfort when peeing, and in some instances, fever are the general symptoms of pyuria, which can causes by a number of different conditions.

Also, Pyuria that is not causes by a UTI can exhibit the same symptoms as a UTI. You might have observed:

bladder pain
symptoms such as nausea or vomiting, which could indicate kidney problems.
ache in the abdomen and discharge of urine that is murky
both a fever and chills
There are instances of pyuria in which no symptoms are present. It is critical to have a urine test performed once a year in order to identify any potential problems.

Causes

Pyuria is usually caused by Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

The majority of cases of pyuria are lead on by infections of the urinary tract. Even while the majority of urinary tract infections are not dangerous, they are excruciating. Urinary tract infections are quite common among women, affecting almost half of all females at some point during their lives. Urinary tract infections can be a recurrent problem for some women. 3

The bacteria that live in the bowels and then go to the urethra are the most prevalent source of infections that occur in the urinary system.

4 Because it is shorter and situated closer to the anus, the urethra of a woman is more likely to become infected with an infection of the urinary system than the urethra of a man.

Because men’s urethras are longer than those of women, it is more difficult for bacteria to reach the bladder from the urethra. Urinary tract infections are less common in males, therefore when they do occur, it is important to take them seriously. Men’s health is more important than women’s health. Prostatitis, an inadequate emptying of the bladder, and stones in the urinary tract or kidneys are all potential reasons why men get infections.

Other possible causes of pyuria include the following:

sterile pyuria is a form of urinary tract infection (UTI) in which there are no bacteria develop in the urine despite the presence of UTI symptoms.
illnesses that passes on by sexual contact, often known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus infection, syphilis, trichomonas, mycoplasma, and HIV.
Infections caused by viruses, including adenoviruses, BK polyomaviruses, and cytomegaloviruses
cystitis of the interstitial spaces
uncomfortable bladder syndrome
genital and pelvic infections
illnesses that occur within the abdomen
pneumonia
sepsis
cystitis caused by radiation
Objects that do not belong in the urinary tract
transvaginal mesh
urinary fistulas
illnesses that are fundamental to the kidneys
kidney transplant rejection
tuberculosis
disorder characterized by the presence of polycystic kidneys
kidney stones
infections caused by fungi
autoimmune disorders, such as Kawasaki disease

Diagnosis

A doctor will do a urinalysis to diagnose pyuria. This requires collecting a urine sample, which is subsequently examines in terms of its color, concentration, and overall composition.

Pyuria may be present if the urine is cloudy and there is an abnormal count of white blood cells.

It is possible that the urinalysis will also reveal other abnormalities. For instance, a urinary tract infection (UTI) could be indicated by the presence of nitrite or leukocyte esterase, but renal illness could be indicated by high protein levels.

Also, a urinalysis is able to diagnose both sterile and non-sterile types of the condition known as pyuria. The urine transports to examine under a microscope. When there are 10 white blood cells per cubic millimeter of urine that has been centrifuged, a diagnosis of pyuria can be made.

Urine testing will also be able to identify any bacteria that might be present in the patient’s system.

It is possible that more tests is require to discover the reason of your pyuria if it is not the result of a bacterial illness. If your healthcare practitioner suspects that another condition, such as kidney stones, may be to blame for it, he or she may conduct blood tests or imaging tests to investigate the possibility.

Your healthcare physician may urge you to cease taking any medications that have the potential to cause pyuria. This step can be helpful in determining whether or not the pyuria causes by the medications.

Treatment

The treatment for pyuria is contingent on the underlying cause of the condition. Pyuria is typically the result of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Also, the condition cures with a brief course of antibiotic medication, such as oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or nitrofurantoin.

Antibiotics are also effective at treating bacterial sexually transmitted infections and TB. It is possible that a more severe underlying illness is present if the symptoms do not improve despite completing the prescribed course of antibiotics.

Pyuria can be treated in some patients by discontinuing the use of the drugs that are leading to an increase in the number of white blood cells seen in the urine. However, it is imperative to speak with a medical professional before discontinuing or adjusting the dosage of any medicine.