Pus Cells in Urine: Understanding Pyuria, Treatment, and Tests

What are Pus cells?

Pus cells are the dead white blood cells that can accumulate in your blood when your immune system gets activated during an infection. These cells create a yellowish or whitish-yellow coloured fluid at the site of the disease, known as the liquor puris, rich in proteins. In some cases, you can find these pus cells in urine.

Pyuria is a condition where there is the presence of white blood cells and pus cells in urine. There are two distinct types of pyuria:

• Sterile: In this case, pus cells in urine are present but without the presence of any bacteria detected.
• Non-sterile: Here, tests can show the presence of both bacteria and pus cells in urine

Is the presence of pus cells in urine normal?

While a certain amount of pus cells in urine is considered normal, if there is a sudden increase in the number of pus cells in urine, it can be a cause of concern. The presence of pus in urine may indicate the possibility of:

• Urinary tract infection
• Problems with kidney function
• Other underlying conditions

Regular urine tests can help you identify these conditions early and get the required medical attention needed to find the solution.

What is the normal range of pus cells in urine?

A small amount of pus cells in urine is normal; however, when this number goes higher than the normal range of pus cells in urine, it could indicate some underlying problems. When observed under a high-powered microscope, the pus cells' normal range can differ for men and women.

The normal range of pus cells in urine for a male urine sample is less than four cells/HPF. On the other hand, the normal range of pus cells in urine for a female urine sample is 5 to 7 cells/HPF. Any changes in the number of pus cells in urine are also physically visible in your urine. The urine may appear thicker and cloudy, just like pus. This is why it is essential to contact your doctor if you observe any changes in your urine.

Why are Pus cells present in urine?

There can be several reasons why you may find pus cells in a urine test. Most of the time, it could be due to a viral or bacterial infection. Some of the other reasons you may find pus cells in urine are:

• Urinary tract infection can include an infection in any part of your urinary system like the bladder, ureter, urethra, or kidneys.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) e.g., gonorrhoea
• Tuberculosis
• Interstitial cystitis
• Kidney diseases
• Bacteremia with sepsis
• Pneumonia
• Prostatitis
• Parasites
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Autoimmune disease
• Tumour in the urinary tract
• Urinary tract stones
• Consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or aspirin
• Diuretics
• Proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole
• Penicillin antibiotics

When should you get a pus cells in urine test done?

The presence of pus cells in urine usually indicates urinary tract infection or in some severe cases, can be the symptom of sepsis or other health conditions. It is essential to get pus cells in urine test done as soon as you observe one or more of the following symptoms.

Pus Cells in Urine Symptoms

Here are the symptoms indicating the pus cells in urine:

• Excretion of cloudy urine
• Changes in the colour or texture of your urine
• The presence of blood in your urine
• Increased frequency of urination
• Presence of blood in urine
• A burning sensation when you pee
• Passing urine that has a very foul smell
• Shortness of breath
• Pain in your abdomen and surrounding region
• Pain in your pelvis and the surrounding region
• Fever
• Nausea or vomiting
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina

Who is affected by Pyuria?

Though anyone can get pyuria, but it is more likely to affect the people from following groups:

• Individuals born as women
• People who are over the age of 45
• Women with the symptoms of menopause

Treatment of Pus Cells in Urine

Your pus cells in urine treatment depends on the cause. For pus cells in urine 25-30 hpf treatment your healthcare provider will often prescribe a round of antibiotics as in this case pyuria can be caused by UITs, bacteria STIs, or tuberculosis.

How to Diagnose Pyuria?

You may often find pus cells in urinalysis. In this case, you need to contact your healthcare provider and conduct further tests to find out the underlying cause of pus cells in urine.

Finding pus cells in urine samples may need the following tests:

• Pus cells in urine test/urine analysis: This is the first step in finding pus cells in urine. A urine sample is observed under a microscope to quantify the amount of pus cells present.
• Urine culture: This test helps understand if a bacterial infection causes the presence of pus cells in urine. A sample of the bacteria in the urine sample is cultivated to help identify the specific type of bacteria causing pyuria.
• Additional tests: When the presence of pus cells in urine is because of an underlying condition other than a urinary tract infection, you may need to undergo additional tests to find the disease. These could include ultrasounds, kidney function, and complete blood count tests.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you reduce pus cells in urine?

Along with pus cells in urine treatment, there are a few simple and natural ways in which you can reduce pus cells in the urine, such as:

• Keeping yourself well hydrated
• Drink cranberry juice or green tea extract as it can help reduce the number of pus cells in urine
• Painkillers like aspirin help reduce the symptoms of pyuria
• Applying a warm, wet compress to the infected area

Follow these suggestions only after consulting your doctor.

What do pus cells in urine indicate?

The presence of pus cells in a urine test can be a general indicator of a urinary tract infection, or something like sepsis.

How to test for Pyuria?

The most accurate and best pus cells in urine test is counting the number of leukocytes in a fresh urine sample.

Are Pus Cells in urine a warning sign of an Infection?

The presence of pus cells in urine may not be alarming. However, if the number of pus cells is higher than the accepted normal range of pus cells in urine, it could indicate that you are suffering from an infection. You may need to undergo further testing to understand the underlying cause of this condition before starting the pus cells in urine treatment.

While the main component of pus is dead white blood cells, it can also contain the debris of other cells, such as dead neutrophils, that can indicate a bacterial infection.

Your body's immune system attacks these bacteria and the dead bacterial cells are cleared away by the macrophages, a type of immune cell dedicated for eating bacteria. Pus cells in urine can be an indicator and warning sign for such infections especially those in the urinary tract.

While the condition may not be serious it can still cause a lot of discomfort like pain and fever. Your urine sample will be scrutinised under a microscope to count the number of pus cells in urine and figure out if you need treatment. In most cases anything higher than four pus cells in urine are considered high chances of an active infection.

Conclusion

Pyuria or pus cells in urine is a condition where you will find white blood cells or pus in your pee. If you notice a sudden change in the colour or smell of your urine it may be time to contact your healthcare provider and find out if there is a cause for concern. Usually, up to four pus cells in urine is considered normal however any more than that and you may have to undergo further tests. Metropolis Labs provides world class testing facilities from the comfort of your home. Contact our experts today to book your appointment.