We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Here’s our process.
Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind.
Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we:- Evaluate ingredients and composition: Do they have the potential to cause harm?
- Fact-check all health claims: Do they align with the current body of scientific evidence?
- Assess the brand: Does it operate with integrity and adhere to industry best practices?
High levels of leukocytes in your urine may indicate you have a condition such as a urinary tract infection (UTI), kidney stones, or pelvic tumor. Risk factors include pregnancy and a compromised immune system.
What are leukocytes?
A complete blood cell (CBC) test often includes a measurement of the level of leukocytes, or white blood cells (WBCs). Higher levels of leukocytes in the bloodstream may indicate an infection. This is because WBCs are part of the immune system, and they help fight off disease and infection.
Leukocytes may also be found in a urinalysis, or a urine test. High levels of WBCs in your urine also suggest that you have an infection. In this case, your body is trying to fight off an infection somewhere in your urinary tract. Usually, that means the bladder or the urethra, which is the tube that carries urine from the bladder. Leukocytes in the urine could also suggest a kidney infection.
Infections or obstruction in the urinary tract or bladder may cause you to have an increased amount of leukocytes in your urine.
Infections may be more severe if you’re pregnant, which increases the odds of developing problems such as urinary tract infections (UTIs). If you’re pregnant and have an infection in your urinary tract, it’s important to receive treatment because it could complicate your pregnancy.
You’re at risk for developing a bacterial infection in your bladder if you hold your urine too long before relieving yourself. Repeatedly holding in urine can stretch the bladder too much. Over time, that makes your bladder less likely to empty fully when you go to the bathroom. When urine remains in the bladder, it raises the chances that bacteria will increase in number, which may lead to a bladder infection. Uncomplicated cystitis is another name for a urinary infection that’s limited to the bladder in healthy people who aren’t pregnant.
Kidney stones, a tumor in the pelvis, or some other type of blockage in the urinary tract may also cause more leukocytes to appear.
Leukocytes in urine don’t necessarily cause symptoms on their own. If you do have leukocytes in your urine, your symptoms will vary depending on the condition that is causing the leukocytes to build up in your urine.
The symptoms of a UTI include:
- a frequent urge to urinate
- a burning sensation when urinating
- cloudy or pink-tinted urine
- strong smelling urine
- pelvic pain, especially in women
Obstructions in the urinary tract can cause a range of symptoms depending on the location and type of obstruction. In most cases, the main symptom is pain on one or both sides of the abdomen. Kidney stones may cause similar symptoms as a UTI but may also include nausea, vomiting, and intense pain.
Women tend to be a greater risk for urinary tract infections, and, therefore, more likely to have leukocytes in their urine. Pregnant women have an even higher risk. Men can develop these infections, too. Having an enlarged prostate, for example, raises the risk of UTIs in men.
Anyone who has a compromised immune system may also be at higher risk for any type of infection.
If you’re healthy, you can still have elevated leukocytes in your bloodstream and urine. A normal range in the bloodstream is between 4,500-11,000 WBCs per microliter. A normal range in the urine is lower than in the blood, and may be from 0-5 WBCs per high power field (wbc/hpf).
If your doctor suspects you have a UTI, they’ll likely ask you to provide a urine sample. They’ll test the urine sample for:
- WBCs
- red blood cells
- bacteria
- other substances
You’re bound to have a few WBCs in your urine even when you’re healthy, but if a urine test identifies levels above 5 wbc/hpf, it’s likely you have an infection. If bacteria are detected, your doctor may perform a urine culture to diagnose the type of bacterial infection you have.
A urine test can also aid in the diagnosis of kidney stones. An X-ray or CT scan can help your doctor see the stones.
Your treatment will depend on the cause of your elevated leukocyte levels in your urine.
Treatment for urinary tract infections
If you’re diagnosed with any type of bacterial infection, your doctor will most likely advise you to take antibiotics. If this is the first time you’ve had a UTI or if you get UTIs infrequently, then a short-term course of antibiotics is appropriate.
If you get recurrent UTIs, your doctor may prescribe a longer course of antibiotics and further testing to see if there are specific reasons for repeat infections. For women, taking an antibiotic after sexual intercourse may be helpful, but you should only take prescription medications as recommended by your doctor.
In addition to antibiotics, increasing your fluid intake can help flush out a UTI. Drinking more water may seem unappealing if urinating is painful, but it can help speed up the healing process.
Obstructions
If an obstruction, such as a tumor or kidney stone, is causing the high leukocyte levels, you may need a surgical procedure.
If you have small kidney stones, increasing the amount of water you drink can help flush them out of your system. Passing stones is often painful.
Sometimes, larger stones are broken up using sound waves. Surgery may also be necessary to remove large kidney stones.
If the blockage occurs due to a tumor, treatment options may also include surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation.
If diagnosed early and treated thoroughly, UTIs usually clear up in a short amount of time. Kidney stones are also treatable. Benign tumors or other growths in the urinary tract may also be treated, but they may require surgery and recovery time.
Cancerous growths may require longer-term treatment, as well as monitoring to watch for the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.
One of the easiest ways to help keep your urinary tract free of infections or kidney stones is to stay hydrated. Drink several glasses of water per day, but talk with your doctor about what amount of water is best for you. If you’re frail or you have a condition such as heart failure, your doctor may recommend that you limit your fluid intake. If you’re active or pregnant, you may need to drink more water every day.
Eating cranberries and drinking cranberry juice may help lower your risk of developing UTIs. That is because a substance in cranberries
Learn more: 7 Best remedies for bladder infection »
Tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual about your urine, such as its color, smell, or any discomfort you experience while urinating. Don’t wait. A urinary tract infection that starts in the urethra can spread to the bladder and kidneys, which makes the problem much more serious and can lead to complications.