Almost all parts of our body are protected by epithelial cells. You could say, the epithelium is the first line of defense between the human body and its environment. In other words, the epithelium very often serves as a protective tissue. But it turns out,Epithelial cells can also be a danger sign,you know. Because, if the content of epithelial cells in the urine too high, then it can indicate that there is a disease in in your body.
Epithelial cells have a function to protect organisms or living things from damage caused by microbes, physical, or chemical so that they are very important for the survival of living things. In the human body, there are 3 types of epithelial cells according to their shape, namely flat epithelial cells that are commonly found in blood vessels and lymph vessels, cuboidal epithelial cells found in glands and kidneys, and also cylindrical epithelial cells that line the digestive tract and bladder. urine. Although it is a normal part of the human body, it turns out that the presence of epithelial cells in the urine can be a sign of a tumor in you.
Urinalysis Can Detect Disease
Not only found in the body, epithelial cells can also be found in your urine. However, to find out you have to go through a test called a urinalysis. Urinalysis is a urine test procedure to detect and manage various disorders such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes.
This test includes the color, concentration, and content of your urine. Abnormal urinalysis results can indicate disease. For example, the presence of a high protein content in the urine indicates a problem with your kidneys. Urinalysis can be done in three ways, namely microscopic examination, analysis dipstick, and viewed directly without tools. Through urine, the doctor can find out what disease you are suffering from.
Epithelial cells are usually found on microscopic examination of the urine. In both men and women, some epithelial cells can be found in normal urine sediment. However, in conditions of infection, inflammation, or dangerous disease, the epithelial cells found in your urine will increase. Epithelial cells that can be found in urine sediment include squamous epithelial cells (from the urethra) and transitional epithelial cells (from the bladder). Generally, if the squamous epithelial cells show a number of 15-20 or more, it means that the urine specimen has been contaminated.
In addition to epithelial cells, your doctor will also check your urine for other problems, such as abnormalities in your red or white blood cells, which may be signs of infection, kidney disease, bladder cancer, or blood disorders. In addition, the presence of crystals or lumps shaped like stones can indicate kidney stone disease. Then, the presence of a bacterial or yeast infection, as well as the presence of epithelial cells in the urine can indicate a tumor in you.
Leukocytes, red blood cells, epithelial cells, and tumor cells are cell elements that are also found in urine sediment. Not only can check the content of epithelial cells in the urine, this test can also determine the content of white blood cells. The leukocyte count is considered normal, usually between 2 and 5 leukocytes/hpf or less. A leukocyte count that is too high in the urine indicates infection, inflammation, or contamination.
After knowing some diseases that can be detected from urine, it never hurts to be a little more careful and pay attention to your urine. If the results of the urine test show that there are epithelial cells in the urine, the doctor will evaluate the origin of the epithelial cells to determine the next action that needs to be done.