Ordinary snot (mucous discharge from the nose) can serve as one of the primary diagnostic tools for an experienced specialist. After all, their nature, viscosity, and intensity of excretion can, to some extent, be judged on the causes and degree of development of the disease. Even more informative, as it turned out, is the color of the snot, which can vary from transparent to dark brown. What does their color mean and what color the snot should be in an adult, we will try to figure it out.
Multicolored snot
To begin with, in a healthy adult, snot does not flow at all. Transparent mucous discharge only moisturizes the nasal passages and does not go out. The nose begins to "snot" when hypothermia, exposure to external stimuli, or when a person "caught" some kind of infection.
Initially liquid, like water, snot is completely transparent and flows very abundantly. This is a normal defense reaction of the body - the nose tries to remove the infection or compensate for the irritating effect on the mucous membrane, intensively moisturizing it. If the runny nose is of an allergic nature, the discharge remains clear, and they are often accompanied by swelling.
When pathogenic microorganisms are present in the upper respiratory tract, they actively multiply, and the work of the entire immune system is directed to fight them. The snot becomes more viscous to further complicate the spread of the infection, and their color gradually changes. The presence of viruses or fungi gives them a yellowish color, and pathogenic bacteria give them a greenish color.
Reddish tints in snot appear when small capillaries are damaged in the nasal cavity. Moreover, the more damage, the more intense the red or brown tint. Often, small bloody clots are present in the discharge. Such snot may have nothing to do with diseases of the upper respiratory tract, but may be caused by completely different reasons.
It is only an experienced doctor who can determine exactly what the color of snot in adults is talking about in each specific case by making the necessary tests and comparing the accompanying symptoms. A runny nose itself is not a disease and you can fight it only by completely eliminating the cause that caused it.
Snot as a symptom
The table below shows options for possible causes that caused a particular color of nasal discharge:
| White | Green | Yellow | Orange | Brown |
| Allergic reaction; irritation of the mucous membrane; drying out of the mucous membrane; hypothermia; the initial stage of ARVI or influenza. | The initial stage of ARVI; bronchitis; the initial stage of sinusitis; lack of normal nose care. | Acute inflammatory process in the upper respiratory tract; subacute stage of sinusitis; sinusitis; frontal. | Acute stage of sinusitis; minor damage to small capillaries; dryness and atrophic changes in the nasal mucosa. | Severe damage to the capillaries; atherosclerosis; a sharp increase in blood pressure; erosion of the nasal mucosa. |
As can be seen from the table, the more intense the color of the snot, the later stage is the disease that caused it. Therefore, it is very important to see a doctor as soon as the snot begins to acquire a yellowish, greenish or reddish tint, without waiting for the development of the disease.
Of course, only the most basic causes and symptoms are listed here, which may indicate multi-colored mucous discharge. Moreover, they are rarely homogeneous. Often children and adults have yellow-green or blood-green snot. Therefore, it is by no means possible to diagnose only on the basis of their color, all the more independently.
Possible treatment
After the doctor finds out exactly about the composition and color of snot - what it means and what causes it, it will become clear which of the treatment methods will be most effective. First of all, he will select the most suitable modern drugs:
vasoconstrictor - nasal drops that quickly relieve puffiness, reduce the manifestation of allergies, eliminate nasal congestion: "Naphthyzin", "Rinazolin", etc.;- antiviral - complex drugs that simultaneously inhibit the multiplication of viruses and stimulate immunity: Anaferon, Amizon, etc .;
- antihistamines - block the manifestations of allergies, facilitate breathing, relieve puffiness: "Citrine", "Diazolin", etc .;
- steroid drugs - effective for atrophic changes in the nasal mucosa: "Prednisolone", etc .;
- antibacterial agents - usually of a wide spectrum of action, are prescribed for severe inflammation and purulent discharge: "Ceftriaxone", "Amoxiclav", etc.
vasoconstrictor - nasal drops that quickly relieve puffiness, reduce the manifestation of allergies, eliminate nasal congestion: "Naphthyzin", "Rinazolin", etc.;In addition, physiotherapy procedures may be prescribed depending on the clinical picture. Inhalation with medicinal herbs or soda is useful.
An excellent antiseptic and antibacterial effect is provided by ultraviolet irradiation and laser therapy. Deep heating provides high frequency ultrasound and the same laser. It activates blood circulation and strengthens darsonval capillaries.
Alternative treatments can also be effective at relieving symptoms of allergies or early-stage upper respiratory illness. If there is purulent discharge, improperly selected self-treatment can greatly complicate the situation. Therefore, if you do not know for sure the reason why the color of the snot suddenly changed, consultation with a specialist is mandatory.
