Snot

White snot: where it comes from and how to get rid of it

Normally, the mucous membrane lining the inside of the nasal passages secretes only transparent mucus, which many simply call snot. It is necessary in order to constantly moisturize them. However, it may happen that suddenly, instead of transparent ones, white snot appears. What does it mean? If the color of the nasal discharge has changed, and they themselves have become much thicker, this is a clear sign of the development of any infection or even quite serious inflammation. In the absence of proper treatment, the harmful process in the body progresses. This can also be determined by the secreted mucus, the volume of which increases significantly. For example, white frothy snot is a bright enough signal that the disease is rapidly developing, and is a direct reason for contacting a specialist.

A thick, white discharge from the nose is very uncomfortable. They are extremely difficult to remove, so normal breathing is impaired.

Why does white snot appear

If white snot appears in an adult, the reasons for this unpleasant symptom almost always indicate that the inflammatory process is developing, as they say, in full swing. Of course, this condition requires immediate diagnosis and adequate treatment. If the discharge gradually turns yellow, this is a clear symptom that the so-called purulent centers have begun to form inside the nasal passages.

So, let's take a closer look at the main reasons for the discharge of a whitish substance from the nose.

White snot can appear when:

  • the body is experiencing a lack of fluid;
  • a person constantly inhales air that is too dry;
  • the common cold is treated incorrectly.

White snot in an adult can indicate many diseases and conditions:

  • adenoiditis;
  • ethmoiditis;
  • sinusitis;
  • nasal polyposis;
  • sinusitis;
  • complications after suffering measles and flu;
  • seasonal allergies;
  • serious caries with the spread of inflammation to the sinuses near the jaw.

The onset of adenoiditis is provoked by streptococci. The process of their transfer from one person to another is airborne. As the name of the disease implies, these bacteria infect the adenoids. Ethmoiditis is characterized by an inflammatory process affecting the mucous tissue separating the nasal cavity from the cranial cavity of the ethmoid bone. If a person suffers from sinusitis, then his frontal sinuses become inflamed. And for an accurate diagnosis of the disease and finding out the reasons why whitish mucus is released from the nose, the X-ray method is traditionally used.

Separately, it should be said about the probable reason for the occurrence of atypical snot already mentioned in the list. White discharge from the nose when blowing out may also indicate that a polyp is lurking somewhere in the nasal passages.

This tumor is the result of an exorbitant growth of the mucous membrane lining these passages. Such neoplasms block the nasal passages, thereby increasing the risk of developing sinusitis in the future. In this case, the optimal and most effective treatment option is an operative one.

Often, white mucus from the nose is excreted in those who suffer from chronic nasopharyngeal problems. Sometimes it happens that they are a symptom of a more rare infection - for example, cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus. In this case, the white discharge from the nose is very difficult to blow your nose.

How to treat

If whitish nasal discharge appeared in an adult, how to treat it is a natural question. To date, the range of medicines designed specifically for this is quite wide and continues to grow. However, there are separate medications for each disease associated with such nasal discharge. There is no single "magic pill" that would eliminate absolutely any reason for the appearance of a whitish substance in the nasal passages.

  1. If white mucus from the nose is provoked by polyposis, it is necessary to flush the nasal passages with the help of the so-called "Cuckoo". For washing, it is best to use solutions of "Diphenhydramine" and "Dioxidine". To speed up the onset of recovery, it is recommended to additionally take the drug "Larotadin" (course duration - 10 days) and spray the antibiotic "Bioparox" into the nasal passages.
  2. If the doctor has diagnosed purulent adenoiditis, usually prescribed to take "Miramistin" (this remedy is dripped into the sinuses three times a day - strictly 3 drops each). The treatment is supplemented by taking the anti-inflammatory drug "Erespal" (course duration - 7 days).
  3. If white nasal discharge appeared due to the presence of cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus in the body (to determine this, it is necessary to pass tests), then it is advisable to use Viferon and Isoprinosine for medicinal purposes.

Regardless of the reason for the appearance of atypical snot, it is very useful to rinse the nose with Dolphin or Aquamaris, instill Kalanchoe or aloe juice into the nasal passages. True, before you start burying the juice of medicinal plants, you need to find out if you are allergic to them.

Let's summarize

When white mucus appears in the nose, it is impossible to immediately determine what specific disease it accompanies. It is impossible to instantly make a correct diagnosis based on this symptom alone. The fact is that in an adult it is a symptom of a significant number of various diseases.

The question "why the snot is white?", Of course, must be addressed to the doctor. The cause of their occurrence today is easily diagnosed through one or more analyzes. Only a doctor can choose a treatment strategy, guided by the test results obtained. It will necessarily consist of 2 parts: taking medications and performing procedures to facilitate nasal breathing.

It is, of course, possible to find out why the snot is white on your own, but only for informational purposes and at the level of suspicion. Self-medication in this case is highly discouraged. To avoid the development of complications.