As you have often heard about the leakage of blood in the urine, it is likely that pus also comes out. This is what is medically known as pyuria. This medical term is defined as the discharge of a purulent fluid through the urine that makes it turn white, yellowish, and cloudy.
Pus in the urine is usually manifested after a urinary infection. However, it can also be evidenced by a complicated urinary tract infection, sexually transmitted diseases, kidney stones, and sepsis (generalized infection). The presence of pus in the urine is associated with a higher concentration of white blood cells in the urine.
Treatment will depend on the identified cause, generally requiring antibiotics, although a medical evaluation will always be necessary. Read on to find out what pus in urine means, its causes, and its treatment.
Table of Contents
Causes of the presence of pus in the urine
Some specific circumstances are the main causes of the presence of pus in the urine:
- Urinary infection: this is the first cause-related to pyuria or the presence of pus in the urine. For this particular reason, the infectious process can be at any level of the urinary tract, kidneys, and mainly bladder and urethra. It is much more common in females than males and frequently occurs after sexual intercourse. Those who are at higher risk of suffering from this type of condition are those who have previously had a urinary tract infection (UTI), people who are diabetic, obese, or who suffer from kidney stones or lithiasis.
- Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): anyone who suffers from a sexually transmitted disease, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, has a greater chance of acquiring a urinary infection and, in turn, the presence of pus in their urine.
- Kidney stones: suffering from kidney stones is usually a risk factor concerning the presence of white blood cells in urine. These tend to rise considerably in the kidneys, triggering infection in this organ (pyelonephritis) and triggering the possible discharge of pus through the urine as a clinical sign.
- Tuberculosis: many think this infectious disease only refers to the respiratory system. However, there is what is known as urinary tuberculosis, characterized by a contagious picture of the urinary tract that does not improve after the application of broad-spectrum antibiotics and that, in addition, it is difficult to identify after performing the urine culture. Having urinary tuberculosis can trigger pain in the lumbar region, blood, and pus coming out of the urine.
Other causes of pus in the urine are:
- Pneumonia.
- The pregnancy increases the chance of having UTIs.
- Trichomoniasis.
- Bacteremia.
- Interstitial cystitis.
- Prostatitis.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Polycystic kidney.
- Tumors
- Parasites
- Adverse drug reactions include aspirin, NSAIDs, penicillins, diuretics, and omeprazole.
Associated symptoms and diagnosis of pus in the urine
The presence of pus in the urine can be accompanied by other changes in the urine, which will be helpful to to observe to make a good diagnosis:
- Cloudy urine
- Color change in urine or milky urine.
Other symptoms that, depending on the cause, a person with pus in the urine may present are:
- Blood leakage through urine.
- Burning when urinating.
- Frequent urge to urinate.
- Pain in the pelvic region.
- Bad smelling urine.
- Fever.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Abdominal pain.
- Sickness.
- Vomiting
There will likely be a diagnostic orientation depending on the patient’s medical history and symptoms. Still, some ancillary tests are required for the diagnosis to be accurate since many people may not manifest any symptoms.
Usually, the urine test shows elevated white blood cells that, associated with the presence of nitrites, may mean that there is a urinary infection. When proteins are manifested in the urine test, we may be talking about some kidney disease.
Treatment for pus in the urine
Generally, the pus in the urine is treated with antibiotics since the remission of the urinary infection is sought. However, we can say that the treatment of pyuria will depend directly on the underlying cause.
The urinary infection will resolve efficiently with antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or nitrofurantoin. If it does not improve with this type of treatment, the cause may be another type of infection that will require another treatment.
Pregnant women are more likely to acquire urinary tract infections due to changes that this stage brings. The doctor will determine the cause and indicate the most suitable antibiotic at this stage.
Although pyuria is not a severe problem, it may be the cause that causes it, and this requires prompt medical treatment. If you experience visible changes in your urine, it is best to have a urinalysis and an early medical evaluation.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Presence of pus in urine: causes and treatment, we recommend that you enter our Kidneys and urinary system category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.