If, during testing, leukocytes were detected in the child’s urine, it means that a disease is occurring in the body, which is important to identify for timely treatment. High levels of leukocytes in a child’s urine are accompanied by characteristic symptoms, in which one should not hesitate or self-medicate, but urgently take the baby for examination. What reasons provoke an increased number of leukocytes in the urine, how to treat the disease, and what preventive procedures will help avoid recurrence?
Preparing for a urine test for leukocytes in a child
In order for the test results to give the most accurate results, it is important to properly prepare the baby for the procedure, following all the doctor’s recommendations and instructions. To ensure that the urine does not have unnecessary uncharacteristic inclusions and does not have a suspicious color, 2-3 days before the test you need to adhere to a diet that excludes foods that affect the color of urine, as well as dishes that provoke an increase in certain indicators in the urine.
In an infant, urine can be collected in a sterile container using a urinal; in older children, urine is collected, as in adults. In order for a urine test to show correct results, you need to collect morning urine, take the middle portion, and pour the first drops into the toilet. Urine must be collected in a sterile container, which you can prepare yourself or buy at a pharmacy. If you do not adhere to the rules for collecting urine and do not carry out hygienic procedures for the child, then the leukocyte level may be 50-60 units.
Causes of increased blood levels
Frequent fatigue, general malaise, increased body temperature, and lack of appetite are symptoms that require you to consult a doctor. An increase in white blood cells may also be accompanied by weight loss, dizziness, decreased visual acuity, and sweating. Infants are often capricious and refuse to eat. Their sleep patterns are disrupted and their stomach hurts.
There are many reasons for deviations from the normal number. Let's consider the main factors that provoke these abnormalities in the blood:
- stress, nervous breakdowns;
- infections;
- allergy;
- parasites;
- burns, injuries, postoperative period;
- anemia;
- poisoning;
- disruption of the endocrine system;
- bleeding;
- sepsis;
- chronic diseases;
- presence of cancer.
The quantitative indicator of white blood cells may rise in case of diseases of the cardiovascular system, for example, heart disease. Physiological reasons include the premenstrual state of older girls, outdoor games, sports, physiotherapeutic procedures, and visits to the X-ray room. Taking certain medications can also change the indicator.
These reasons cause a protective reaction of the body. To combat negative factors, the number of leukocytes in the blood increases.
If the indicator has changed for physiological reasons, it will return to normal on its own. Pathological processes that change the composition of the blood require treatment.
Normal for girls and boys
The norm of leukocytes in the urine of a newborn baby and a one-year-old child exceeds the indicators of older children, and ranges from 8-10 units in girls, slightly less than 5-6 in a boy. If the baby is 1-3 years old, there are no inflammatory processes in the body and the child is healthy, then the number of leukocytes is 2-3 units; at 3 years and older, leukocytes in the urine are 11. In adolescents, the red corpuscle in the urine is present in smaller quantities and fluctuates in the range of 1-2 units. There are different methods according to which the indicators will fluctuate by several units, which is why there is confusion in the interpretation of the results. Thus, when taking urine tests according to Nechiporenko for children, the norm is 2-4 units, and according to the Addis-Kakovsky method, the normal value should not exceed 2 units.
If the urine test exceeds the norm of leukocytes, this indicates that diseases are occurring in the body, which provoke changes in indicators.
Reasons for the increase
The reasons for the fact that completely elevated leukocytes are found in the urine of children are very diverse, but most often the root cause is a severe inflammatory disease. For example, with pyelonephritis, a child’s urine analysis shows leukocytes of 20-30 units, while bacteria are visible in the urine, protein also exceeds normal levels. This is a large excess of the norm, so urgent medical attention is required. Such indicators can occur in acute forms of cystitis or urethritis, so in no case should you give your baby medicine yourself.
The reasons for the increase in leukocytes in the blood and urine are congenital pathologies of the development of the organs of the genitourinary system. Allergies also affect test results, so if a child suffers from such a pathology, then 40-50 leukocytes may also appear in the results. Even if the baby feels normal and does not have a fever, and there are a lot of leukocytes in the urine, this is also a reason to visit a doctor.
Signs of leukocytes in urine
- difficulty urinating;
- baby crying while emptying the bladder;
- cloudy urine with sediment or flakes;
- urine has an unpleasant odor;
- dark colored urine;
- elevated temperature;
- the occurrence of chills.
If you suspect an increased level of leukocytes in your child’s urine, you should contact your pediatrician. The norm, exceeded even by the slightest, can become a cause for concern about the baby’s health.
Symptoms of the disease
If a small child or teenager has increased leukocytes in the blood, such indicators mean that inflammatory processes are progressing in the body, which manifest themselves with similar symptoms:
- temperature and deterioration of general health against the background of intoxication of the body;
- painful trips to the toilet, during which the volume of urine is limited to a few drops;
- visualization of inclusions, which may be bloody, purulent or white mucous, when urinating in urine;
- a sharp deterioration in health if the inflammation is advanced and spreads to the kidneys (the child becomes ill, he may lose consciousness or become delirious);
- white coloration of urine, which indicates severe damage to the kidneys by the microbacterium tuberculosis, therefore, with such a symptom, you urgently need to take the baby for examination.
What are leukocytes?
Leukocytes, or white blood cells, are cells of the human immune system. They are round or irregular in shape and vary in size. These white components of the blood are called the main protective factor in the body’s fight against various diseases. Leukocytes contain special enzymes that are able to “digest” foreign microorganisms and break down decay products formed during human life. Some types of bodies produce antibodies - special proteins that destroy pathogenic bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that enter the body. The place of their formation and maturation is the bone marrow. Leukocytes in newborns are determined in blood and urine tests. There are standards for this indicator for children of different ages.
Treatment of leukocyturia in a child
After all the tests have been completed and the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor prescribes drug therapy. If the root cause of leukocyturia is an infectious disease, then mandatory antibacterial therapy is required, the duration of which should be at least a week. Additionally, painkillers, diuretics, and uroseptics are prescribed, which normalize the functioning of the kidneys and prevent the stagnation of excess fluid in the body.
During this period, it is important to maintain bed rest, stay warm, eat bland food, and adhere to the drinking regime. When you have a fever, you need to drink warm herbal chamomile tea, unsweetened compotes, fruit drinks, and fresh juices. From food, it is recommended to eat light food with a minimum content of salt and other seasonings. The temperature in the room should be comfortable, and it is important to maintain the optimal level of humidity.
If all the rules are followed, the child’s condition improves within 3-5 days. If there is no improvement and the picture of the tests is bad, it is recommended to take repeated tests and undergo further examination. If the red cells in the analysis are elevated, this may also indicate the development of a dangerous disease such as leukemia. The red body begins to attack malignant cells, which means that in tests the number of leukocytes will be significantly higher than normal.
Urine collection in young children
It is difficult for children to prepare material for research before they reach the age of two; it is difficult for parents to explain the rules to their child.
Therefore, there are several tricks:
- In infants, especially newborn girls, it is most convenient to collect material in special adhesive urine collection bags. To prevent the urine bag from being pulled off from above, you can wear thick panties, pants or diapers.
- In children 1.5-2 years old who are accustomed to visiting the toilet, it is possible to use the so-called “grabbed” morning portion of urine, which is collected into a sterile container immediately after the start of urination.
- Before gluing the urine collection bag, the external genitourinary organs are toileted according to the same rules. The bag should be removed immediately after urination is completed.
- If no urination occurs within 30-60 minutes of gluing the bag, it should be replaced with a new one.
- Urine collected using adhesive bags is suitable for OAM using test strips, but should not be used for culture.
- Urination in infants is often interrupted and occurs in small volumes. Therefore, it is possible to use several sterile urine bags in a row. To do this, immediately after finishing urination, the bag is immediately removed and the contents are poured into a sterile container. Then the baby should be washed a little with water, blotted with a clean towel and a new clean bag should be glued on. The process can be repeated until the required volume of material for research is collected.
A high level of leukocytes in a child’s body is an alarming signal that requires immediate response. The reasons may be quite harmless, but in most cases we are talking about the development of pathologies, including quite severe ones.
Prevention
Preventive measures should primarily be aimed at preventing relapses and improving the protective properties of the child’s body. Much attention needs to be paid to maintaining the baby’s personal hygiene. Girls need to be washed so that microorganisms from the anus do not fall on the outer labia, since the entry of specific intestinal microbacteria into the vagina causes severe infectious inflammation, which is then more difficult to get rid of. It is also important to strengthen the immune system, eat healthy food, fresh fruits and vegetables, toughen up, and exercise. Take vitamin complexes and supplements only as prescribed by a doctor and do not self-medicate.
Reasons for deviations from the norm
Why can a child have elevated leukocytes in his urine?
- Incorrect fluid collection. If the mother missed some steps during the collection process, a false positive result is possible.
- If on the eve of the collection the baby ran intensely, ate high-calorie foods, took a hot bath, or managed to become hypothermic.
- If the child has diaper rash in the groin area or on the buttocks.
- Metabolic disorders, which can cause allergic manifestations.
- Inflammatory processes of the external genitalia.
- The presence of a bacterial infection, which can occur due to the fact that the child endures for a long time and rarely empties the bladder.
- Urinary tract infections such as cystitis may be present.
- Inflammation of the kidneys or pyelonephritis in children.
- The presence of enterobiasis in children.
What to do if the indicator increases?
The first thing to do if deviations in the analysis are detected is to re-examine. There can be many reasons not related to diseases - poorly processed container, poor cleaning, untimely transportation of the sample to the laboratory, etc.
If the second time the result is similar, then further diagnostics are performed to help identify the specific location of the pathological focus. This can be ultrasound, CT, MRI, cystoscopy and other methods of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics.
Recently, a technique has been invented to avoid possible inaccuracies when performing urine tests. Its essence lies in the use of an enzyme secreted by leukocytes. This enzyme is called leukocyte esterase (LE).
Even if, for some reason, leukocytes in a urine sample are destroyed and become invisible under a microscope, then special reagents are able to detect this enzyme. Its determination indicates the presence of leukocytes in the urine, so the technique is considered to be as accurate as possible and not subject to unforeseen circumstances.
Useful tips
- If an increased number of leukocytes is found and you doubt that you collected the material correctly, it is better to retake it again.
- If at the time of donation the baby is undergoing drug treatment, it is necessary to warn the doctor who ordered the test about this, or consider the option of donation after treatment (if the child does not have any acute symptoms).
- If shortly before the delivery the child underwent an ultrasound of the organs, physiotherapy or x-rays, it is better to postpone the procedure for several days.
- It is important for parents to know that treatment of the genitourinary system is a long process. And if the doctor prescribed antibiotics for treatment, which must be taken for 10 days, then they should be given to the baby for exactly 10 days, no less.
Quite often , mothers can observe that already on the 2-3rd day the child is much better, and at this moment there is a temptation to stop giving the “harmful” antibiotic. The danger is that at this stage the bacteria are partially neutralized, but not destroyed. And if treatment is stopped, they may develop resistance to this drug. And if the disease returns, this antibiotic will no longer help.
