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A 18-year-old female asked:
What does it mean if there are white blood cells and ketones present in urine?
3 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Stephen Southardanswered
Internal Medicine 17 years experience
Many things: Ketones can be found in your urine related to poorly controlled diabetes, an extremely low carbohydrate diet and resulting fat metabolism, dehydration and too much alcohol. White blood cells in your urine, so called pyuria, suggests some element of inflammation along the genitourinary tract. You could see this from infections, like a UTI, or even just from physical irritation of the urethra.
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3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Georgia Lathamanswered
Family Medicine 37 years experience
Infection/starvation: White blood cells (WBC) in the urine are considered a sign of infection. WBC can be due to contamination from surrounding tissues; this is more common in women. A culture needs to be done to diagnosis infection. Ketones in the urine are considered a sign of starvation. Ketones are the result of the breakdown of cells in the body, that occurs when the cells do not have adequate energy input.
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Dr. David Lipkinanswered
Internal Medicine 54 years experience
See below: WBC can indicate a urinary tract infection. Ketones are seen when the body metabolizes fat for energy, instead of glucose. This happens during fasting or starvation. It also occurs with alcoholic and diabetic ketoacidosis.
The presence of WBC is unrelated to the Ketones in the urine.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 37-year-old member asked:
What does it mean if there are white blood cells in my urine?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Evan Altmananswered
Psychiatry 21 years experience
White blood cells: White blood cells are not normally found in the urine. Leukocytes/wbcs indicate that inflammatory/infectious process is occurring, especially if rbcs are not present to support the idea of whole blood in the urine. Lab findings must be taken in a clinical context; we need to know what symptoms, issues, or other info available if any to help evaluate.
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4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
What can it mean having white blood cells in your urine and how should I deal?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jalal Zuberianswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
White cells in Urine: White cells in urine mean inflammation some where in the urinary system. Most commonly it is due to infection, starting from the outer genital area all the way upto the kidneys. Besides infection, other causes of inflammation like stones, anywhere in the urinary system can also cause WBC's in urine. The best thing is to repeat the test after good hydration and persue it with your treating doctor.
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4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
New York, NY
A 31-year-old female asked:
Meaning of a lot of white blood cells in the urine?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Karen Jonesanswered
Obstetrics and Gynecology 39 years experience
Infection: A lot of white cells in the urine usually means an infection. The infection could be in the urine - a bladder infection - or the cells could be coming from the vagina - which would mean a cervical or vaginal infection. With a bladder infection there is pain with voiding and voiding frequently. With a vaginal infection - itch, irritation, discharge or odor, and often pain. Check and treat this.
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4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Related questions
A 22-year-old female asked:
I'll pee, then it will stop and i'll feel pain. Its an achy pain that remains. Did urine test & spec. Grav is1.030 pH is 5. Leuko. Is 1+. Proteins present. Ketone is 2+[100] and may be blood present..
Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 58 years experience
Need more info: And in addition to further history and physical exam, prior medical records. Suggest you discuss this with your doctor, or obtain consultative advice... Read More
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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A 26-year-old male asked:
I recently had a physical for a new job, including blood work and urinalysis. To prepare, I didn't consume any food the morning of the exam except water. The results came back with "Trace A" ketones in my urine. I'm not diabetic.What does that mean?
Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 48 years experience
It means your body was breaking down some fat to convert to energy. With that history of fasting I would expect that urine finding. I wouldn'rt worry ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Reviewed Dec 15, 2021
A 38-year-old female asked:
3 yr old has ketones in urine, A1c was done results were 5.5. Blood sugars ranged from 43 to 208 in a 12 hr period. What could this mean?
Dr. Joanne Peckanswered
48 years experience
A1C is normal: Ketones in a 3 year old are usually caused by not enough to eat or drink-such as overnight, during a stomach flu, etc. Blood sugars can be falsely hi... Read More
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5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old female asked:
I went to doctors today for UTI symptoms ketones in urine does this mean UTI and blood in urine ?
Dr. Pavel Conovalciucanswered
Family Medicine 25 years experience
UTI: Uti symptoms + blood and ketones are all typical of a uti. Once you've been treated, all 3 of those should disappear.
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4.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A 77-year-old female asked:
I had a U/A culture done and it came back with 2+ protein ; trace of ketones; 2+blood in my urine. my microscopic urinalysis came back with WBC 11-30; RBC greater than 30. What could this mean?
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
These are typical urinalysis results for urinary tract infection (UTI). You don't mention the culture result; most likely it will be positive for E. c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Answered Sep 11, 2022
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Last updated Feb 25, 2015
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