Pyuria is a condition that happens when excess white blood cells are present in the urine.
Causes
Urinary tract infections are the most common cause of pyuria.
Although most UTIs are not serious, they are painful.
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About half of all women will have at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetime.
Some women have recurrent urinary tract infections.
Men have longer urethras, making it harder for bacteria to make their way up to the bladder.
With sterile pyuria, the urine contains white blood cells but appears sterile.
This means that the culture doesn’t grow bacteria and other microorganisms.
The urine is sent for microscopic evaluation.
Pyuria is diagnosed when there are 10 white blood cells per cubic millimeter of centrifuged urine.
Pyuria cannot be diagnosed with an office dipstick urine test.
Treatment
The treatment for pyuria depends on the cause.
Most cases are resulting from UTIs, which are treated with antibiotics.
In most cases, antibiotic treatment will relieve the symptoms of a UTI.
You must take all the antibiotics prescribed, or your urinary tract infection may return.
Prevention
Practicinggood personal hygienecan help prevent urinary tract infections.
This includes always wiping from front to back after urination and bowel movements.
Staying hydrated can help prevent UTIs and kidney stones.
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Watanabe T.Pyuria in patients with Kawasaki disease.World J Clin Pediatr.
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