The presence of nitrates (not nitrites) in the urine is relatively normal, especially given the current food (food additives, rapid methods of cultivation of plants and animals). But during the health problems in the bladder may appear and actively breed bacteria. They secrete a special enzyme and under the influence of nitrates start to turn into nitrites, showing up at the same time in the urine.

The infection in this case is located in the upper part of the urinary system (pyelonephritis) or lower (cystitis, urethritis). In the first case it is much worse treatment, and diagnostics. Usually nitrites in urine discover when they begin to exhibit other symptoms: pain, impaired urination, chills, fever.

The most common bacteria that causes this kind of infection - Escherichia coli (E.coli). It is present in the colon, stomach, around the anus and in the stool. But there may be others.

What is nitrite and where they come from?

Nitrites are formed from nitrates in the urine (both are - nitrogen compounds). Nitrates are contained in large quantities in vegetable products and fall directly into the urinary tract from the blood. They are filtered in the kidney, and then gradually concentrated in the bladder. Responsible for the formation of nitrite by bacteria. However, the actual "responsibility" in front of the body for these same microbes are nitrites. Rather, it is simply a side effect of the presence of bacteria in urine, their trail. Normally nitrite in urine should be, since there should be no bacteria. Therefore, detection of nitrite - rapid microbial growth indicator in the urinary tract.

What is the test for nitrates?

First of all, we must understand that it is a rapid test. That is, when a reply is "yes-no". Or bacteria have, or not. The researcher does not know exactly how much and what kind of bacteria they are sensitive to some antibiotics, in which urinary systems proliferate. Therefore, any, even the most modern test strip for the detection of nitrite is no substitute for the same "banal" urinalysis. Moreover, if the infection is caused by Gram-positive bacteria and Pseudomonas (and it happens quite often), nitrite is not defined at all, because these two families of microorganisms nitrates are not processed. But the trouble man delivered a great many (cystitis caused by Gram-positive bacteria, usually become chronic and difficult to treat).

What if there are nitrites, and no symptoms?

In this case we are dealing with asymptomatic bacteriuria or false positive test result. When a urine sample, which revealed nitrites, bacteria and absent any signs of inflammation, the analysis will have to redo it. If identified and nitrites, and bacteria - should begin treatment immediately.

Nitrite in the urine of adult

Is Different nitrites in the urine of women and men?

Of course no. As bacteria and nitrite produced by the bacteria - quite the same. The male and female urinary systems differ only in the final section: the urethra in women is short and relatively wide, and men - long and narrow. That is why the laboratories to make allowances for a different degree of contamination of the material collected from men and women. Contamination of the sample is of fundamental importance, because during storage (for example, waiting for transport to the laboratory) bacteria actively proliferate first by absorbing nitrates and then die from a lack of nutrients, causing the amount of nitrite is also gradually reduced. Changes and reliability of results.

The most frequent reasons for the detection of nitrite in the urine of women:

• cystitis;
• urethritis;
• pyelonephritis.

The most frequent reasons for the detection of nitrite in the urine of men:

• BPH;
• cystitis;
• inflammation of the ureter (usually within urolithiasis accession secondary infection);
• pyelonephritis.

Nitrites in the urine of the child

In order to synthesize many microorganisms had nitrite, able to determine how much longer the test strip, the urine should be located in the bladder 4 hours or more. Typically, these conditions are satisfied first morning urine sample. The daily dose can be taken, too, but it is important to bear this time interval between urination.

Thus, in order to be exactly sure of the correctness of the result, you need to pass concentrated urine. However, in practice this is not always feasible. For example, a child with a slight rise in body temperature suspected SARS, are beginning desoldering, according to the pediatrician's recommendations. Become more frequent urination, urine becomes less concentrated, even the most "first morning". And when the doctor comes to the idea of ​​a possible urinary tract infection and directs the child to the analysis, the laboratory defines a large number of white blood cells, red blood cells, and even protein in the sample - but nitrite, as well as bacteria, there may be missing. Ideally, of course, to avoid false-negative test result on nitrites, liquid reception on the eve of a urine should be limited.

Nitrite in infants

Urine, taken for analysis in infants, should be transported to the laboratory as soon as possible, and here's why:

1. Collection analysis is usually difficult: Kids with incomprehension are attempting to tie the bag and cause urination at any capacity. Thus, many times increases the probability of falling into the urine bacteria from the skin of the kid and adult hands.
2. Careful hygiene of the urethra is also difficult.
3. Boys up to a year is likely inflammation of the foreskin, and it means - further colonization by bacteria of urine. It increases the likelihood of a false positive result.

In most cases, a bacterial infection in infants is localized in the bladder, and, interestingly enough, there are cases "mixed infection" - a combination of bacterial growth with active reproduction in the bladder of various herpes viruses.

Nitrite in the urine during pregnancy

A positive result in the nitrite in pregnant women requires more attention: first of all obstetricians fear pyelonephritis. Inflammation of the kidney, both acute and chronic, can cause miscarriage, intrauterine infections, eclampsia, high blood pressure (which in itself worsens the blood supply to the fetus).