Medically known as hematuria, the presence of white blood cells in urine is not normal and often a symptom of some underlying condition or infection, especially of the urinary system. The urinary system is made of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra. Presented below are some of the causes of white blood cells in urine.

Causes of white blood cells in urine

The causes and associated symptoms and treatments of white blood cells in urine are listed below:

• UTI/Urinary Tract Infection: It is the most prevalent form of urinary system infection. Bacteria can enter the urinary tract via the urethra during urination or sexual intercourse and then infect the ureters, the urethra, or other urinary tract components.UTIs can also get triggered due to underlying cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and other STDs.
  • In addition to white blood cells in urine, UTIs symptoms include painful urination, burning sensations when passing urine, cloudy urine, and frequent urination. It is treated with antibiotics and other medications.
• Cystitis/bladder infections: Infection of the bladder by bacteria is known as cystitis. Bacteria may enter the bladder via the urethra or the bloodstream and cause inflammation of the bladder wall leading to white blood cells in urine. Bladder infections can also occur due to unsafe sex, obstructions or disturbances in bladder emptying/clearance, use of catheters, and some pregnancy-associated conditions such as an enlarged uterus, etc. Bladder infections commonly affects boys as compared to girls, but women are at increased risk to cystitis than men. In males, the infection often begins in the prostate and makes its way up to the bladder.
  • Additional symptoms include bladder spasms, painful and burning sensations when passing urine, urinary frequency, cloudy urine, desire to urinate frequently, foul smelling urine, and pain that occurs just over the pubic bone.
  • Bladder infections by bacteria are treated with antibiotics, painkillers for pain alleviation, better personal hygiene, and diet and lifestyle changes.
• Pyelonephritis/kidney infections: Kidney infections are medically termed as pyelonephritis. The infection can travel from the urinary tract or the bladder to the kidneys; pyelonephritis is more severe than bladder infections. Women are more susceptible than men. It is also common in people with impaired immune systems and long-term users of catheters. Kidneys perform the function of filtering blood and urine. Hence, kidney infections adversely affect its functions and cause the passage of white blood cells in urine.
  • Patients may suffer from a host of symptoms such as persistent urination, chills, fever, malaise, intense pain, vomiting, bloody urine, and nausea.
  • Kidney infections can be serious and require hospitalization. It is treated with antibiotics and pain medications, etc.
• Kidney stones: Urine consists of urea, minerals, etc. Kidney dysfunction can cause buildup of oxalate and calcium in the kidneys, which eventually over a period of time crystallize and form stones. These crystals may lodge into the ureters or other parts of the urinary tract, irritate the urethra, cause urine backup and accumulation in bladder, and eventually result in cystitis or UTIs marked by white blood cells in urine. Men are more prone to developing kidney stones than women.
  • Kidney stones can cause waves of intense pain that radiate between the sides and the lower back. Obstruction of the urethra by a kidney stone can result in limited urine outflow, painful urination, and bladder spasms.
  • Drinking lots of water can help naturally remove small kidney stones via urine by increasing the overall urine output. If issue persists, the stones can be ultrasonically broken or surgically removed.
• Interstitial nephritis: It is a kidney condition marked by inflammation of the space between the tubules of the kidneys. Subsequently, kidney function of filtering waste is impaired leading to white blood cells in urine. Patients may also experience vomiting, reduced urine output, nausea, and fluid retention, etc.

White blood cells in urine ‘with no infection’

White blood cells in urine can also occur when there is no infection of the urinary system or its components. A few common causes are listed below:

• IC/Interstitial cystitis: Unlike bladder infections, this condition features no infection by any pathogen. Instead, hematuria is caused due to inflammation and swelling of the bladder wall. Women are at greater risk to IC than men. Symptoms include urinary frequency and urgency, bladder spams, and pain in pelvis. Antibiotics are not given as there is no infection. Treatment involves medicines to alleviate spams and/or to dilate the bladder.
• Obstructions in the urinary system: Urinary system blockages may occur due to formation of stones in the bladder or kidneys, trauma to the pelvic area, prostate hypertrophy, tumors, foreign bodies in the tract, or lupus.Patients may suffer from weak urine flow, pain when passing urine, weakness and pain in the abdomen, and urination difficulties, etc. Obstructions can be cleared with medications or surgery.
• Not voiding bladder regularly: When urine is withheld for long periods of time, then urine can collect in the bladder and overstretch and weaken it. This can result in limited or absent ability of the bladder to void urine. The old accumulated urine is at increased risk to infections, ultimately causing white blood cells in urine.
• Pregnancy: Pregnancy is marked by varied hormonal and biological changes, including WBCs and protein in urine; it is normal. However, if hematuria persists or aggravates then immediate medical attention is necessary.

All people who experience hematuria must visit a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Most cases of urinary system infections and white blood cells in urine can be easily and fully cured with antibiotics. Severe cases may require hospitalization.

Good personal hygiene and habits can help avoid UTIs most of the time. For example, taking a shower before and after sexual intercourse can help prevent infections quite significantly. Change undergarments on a daily basis; soak them in an antiseptic solution before wash to kill all germs.

Eating a balanced healthy diet, regularly exercising, quitting smoking, and other lifestyle changes can help enhance the immune system, thereby helping prevent infections and white blood cells in urine.