Pus Cells in Urine

Pus in urine is a sure fire indication of an infection. Pus is a substance with a whitish or slightly green or yellow color and relatively thick like glue. Pus contains dead skin cells, bacteria and white blood cells. The presence of pus signifies that your body is fighting against an infection. Pus in urine is a sign of that you probably have an infection either in the lower or upper urinary tract.

Causes of Pus cells  in Urine

The most common cause of pus cells  in urine is UTI or Urinary Tract Infection. UTI is more common in women than in men. And many don’t even realize they already have the infection until the presence of pus is evident.

STD or sexually transmitted disease can also set off pus in urine. Men and women who are sexually active and are not cautious are at risk of getting infected with STD. Mycoplasma and Chlamydia are common forms of STDs that produce pus in urine.

Other causes include:

• Viral infections

• Anaerobic bacterial infection

• Fungal infections

• Fastidious bacteria

• Tuberculosis

• Infection in the prostate (in men)

• Chemical poisoning (4-Aminodiphenyl)

• Gonorrhea

• Pyelonephritis

• Renal abscess

• Reiter’s syndrome

At times, pus in urine can also be due to old age and pregnancy. While certain medications such as Ropinirole and Requip can also cause pus.

Symptoms of Pus in Urine

Oftentimes pus in urine doesn’t always indicate an infection or the presence of bacteria. Sometimes pus would appear without showing any other symptoms such as in the case of more serious conditions like cancer or tuberculosis. But when symptoms do appear, they are:

• Foul smelling urine

• Cloudy urine

• Frequent urination

• Fever

• Discomfort during urinating

Tests and Diagnosis of Pus in Urine

The following are the steps taken to help diagnose the cause of pus in urine:

• Assessment of medical history of past UTI or STD infections, antibiotic or other medications recently used, and family history of kidney diseases

• Physical examination

• Laboratory tests: the main laboratory test for pus in urine is Urinalysis. Other follow-up tests include CBC (pyelonephritis), ANA analysis, CT scan, and Renal Ultrasound

Treatment for Pus in Urine

High quantity of white blood cells present in the urine indicates inflammation located higher than the urinary tract system. The condition can be caused by kidney problems or other serious conditions. When the urinalysis confirms the high level of white blood cells, the doctor will require further tests to determine the underlying cause in order to come up with the appropriate course of therapy. Usually, pus in urine can be treated through antibiotics such as Ampicillin, Norfloxacin, Amoxicillin, Minocycline, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, and Doxycycline.

Complications of Pus in Urine

Potential complications can occur depending on the underlying cause of pus in urine. For example, a simple urinary tract infection when left untreated may progress further with the infection reaching the kidneys. When this happens, the patient can become dehydrated and the situation could aggravate into kidney problems. Though UTI rarely occurs in men, they are, however, more prone to complications. It is therefore crucial to know the symptoms and have it treated right away before things get any worse.