Yellow liquid flows from the nose: what is it?

Causes of the phenomenon

The first thing you need to do if you notice yellow fluid escaping is to consult a doctor, get a list of medications and complete the full course of treatment.

The most common reasons that provoke the discharge of a yellow substance from the nose are the following:

Sinusitis;
Sinusitis.

With a competent and timely approach to treatment, these diseases will not pose a danger to the human body. Complications and further active development of sinusitis and sinusitis are possible only if the patient ignored the first symptoms.

Sinusitis

The most common symptom of sinusitis is yellow fluid coming from the nose that has a strong and unpleasant odor. The disease may be accompanied by severe pain when tilting the head. With sinusitis, a person may experience constant headaches, severe cough, fever and fever. With increased temperature and pressure, the capillaries in the nose burst, so the fluid from the nose may be red in color (blood). Sinusitis also has the following symptoms:

Runny nose that lasts more than 1 week;
Nasal congestion;
Cough with sputum production;
Weakness;
Increased fatigue.

Sometimes surgery is required to cure sinusitis. The operation involves making an incision in the sinuses to remove the pus that has accumulated there. As a rule, in order to consolidate the result and save a person from further occurrence and development of sinusitis, doctors prescribe antibacterial drugs. Sinusitis treatment cannot be ignored. If you do not pay attention to the signs of the disease, then in the future you can get diseases such as:

Meningitis;
Osteomyelitis;
Hearing and vision complications.

The cause of yellow snot is nasal liquorrhea

Liquor is cerebrospinal fluid necessary for normal brain function. Outwardly, it is not as thick as ordinary snot, and in its normal state it is transparent and watery. Nasal liquorrhea is when the fluid turns yellow when blood gets into it.

Why is this happening? Yellow fluid often appears after traumatic brain injury, as well as:

after surgery to remove nasal polyps;
congenital defects of the skull;
spinal injuries;
disorders of the skeletal system and a number of other diseases.

In cases of nasal liquorrhea, yellow nasal fluid usually flows from only one nostril. And with a normal runny nose - from both sinuses. With nasal liquorrhea, the yellow liquid looks somewhat oily. And if it gets into the respiratory organs, a cough often occurs (mainly at night).

To determine liquorrhea, it is enough for an experienced doctor to assess the condition of the handkerchief. After the liquid dries, small traces remain on it. They look like starched areas. Nevertheless, the yellow liquid is taken for analysis. Liquor is simply different from snot. It always contains sugar. But it’s not in the snot. X-rays and computed tomography are used to diagnose the disease.

To get rid of yellow fluid (leaking cerebrospinal fluid), surgical and conservative treatment is used. After injuries, the patient is prescribed bed rest and must avoid sneezing, coughing and sudden movements. The amount of liquid food is reduced. Antibacterial medications and vitamins are prescribed.

Sinusitis

The cause of yellow discharge from the nose when tilting the head may be sinusitis. Sinusitis is an inflammatory process that develops in the paranasal sinuses. It usually occurs due to allergies or advanced caries. It has acute and chronic forms. In the acute form of sinusitis, a person may feel fever, increased temperature, difficulty breathing, and pain when blinking. In the chronic form of sinusitis, a person usually coughs. Sinusitis may also be accompanied by:

Chills;
High temperature;
Severe headache;
Nasal congestion;
Pain in the forehead area.

If you ignore the first symptoms of the disease, a person observes the discharge of yellow liquid from the nose, which is accompanied by a minimal amount of blood. If treatment for sinusitis is not started, meningitis may develop, and this, in turn, can cause complications in hearing and vision. In 10-20% of cases, progression of the disease ends in death.

To identify sinusitis after noticing symptoms, you must immediately contact a specialist who will conduct an examination, study all the symptoms of the disease and prescribe further treatment. If, when tilting the head, water flows from the nose and has an unpleasant odor, the doctor will refer the patient for an x-ray of the paranasal sinuses. There are many ways to treat sinusitis, mostly medications.

Maxillary sinus cyst

A cyst that arises in the maxillary sinus is a benign formation. This pathology is almost always accompanied by the presence of yellow liquid contents in the sinus.

Usually the disease is asymptomatic, but sometimes the following signs may still be observed:

permanent or temporary nasal congestion on one side;
when you tilt your head, yellow liquid comes out of your nose;
difficulty breathing through the nose;
pain in the sinus area;
headache.

Reasons that provoke the appearance of a cyst:

pathological structure of the nasal cavity;
inflammatory process in the sinuses;
allergic reaction;
advanced rhinitis;
polyps.

In this case, the yellow water is the contents of the cyst. If the color of the fluid turns brown, then there is an injury that has disrupted the integrity of the cyst. This patient urgently requires hospitalization.

It is impossible to get rid of the cyst using conservative methods; surgery is required, which can be performed in one of two ways.

Endoscopy - an endoscope is inserted into the sinus through an opening in the nasal cavity, through which the cyst is completely removed. This operation is considered minimally invasive (gentle).
The classic method is to make an incision above the upper lip and destroy the wall of the nasal septum. After this operation, complete restoration of the nasal cavity is impossible.

What does yellow fluid from the nose mean?

Yellow fluid from the nose may be a sign of sinusitis

The appearance of yellow discharge from the nose is a sign that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the body. With a common cold, the mucus is colorless, but in the absence of effective treatment, the mucus can become a variety of colors, ranging from yellow to green.

The reason for this pathological condition lies in white immune cells that react to pathogenic microorganisms, trying to neutralize them. All this causes massive death of blood cells and causes a change in the color of the fluid emerging from the nasal cavity.

Yellow discharge is a sign of advanced pathological process.

The fact is that the body, not finding support, tries to solve the problem on its own, eliminating pathogens. Bright yellow mucus from the nose can appear for various reasons and a focus of the inflammatory allergy process may occur. In addition, purulent exudate and bacteria can change the color of the discharge.

Possible pathologies and symptoms

A common cause of yellow nasal discharge is considered to be a maxillary sinus cyst, which is a benign neoplasm.

Mostly the pathology occurs without the development of a clear clinical picture, but in some cases the following signs may appear:

permanent or temporary nasal congestion with frequent relapses
yellow snot from the nose, appearing mainly from one nostril or when tilting the head
difficulty breathing through the nose
sinus pain and headaches

Another common disease that may be accompanied by the appearance of yellow nasal discharge is sinusitis. With this pathology, the inflammatory process is localized in the paranasal sinuses and is accompanied by the appearance of unpleasant symptoms. Sinusitis can occur in acute and chronic forms, and this is what the possible symptoms depend on.

Additional symptoms will help determine the diagnosis

In acute sinusitis, the clinical picture may be as follows:

high body temperature and fever
yellow nasal discharge in large quantities
pain and discomfort under the eyes and especially when pressing
severe pain when tilting the head

If sinusitis becomes chronic, the following symptoms may appear:

cough
slight pain under the eyes
frequent runny nose
trouble breathing through the nose

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that can develop as a result of a viral, fungal, or bacterial infection. With this pathology, liquid is released from the nasal cavity, which is yellow in color and has a specific odor.

The following symptoms may bother you with sinusitis:

rise in body temperature
dry cough that occurs at night
impaired sense of smell
nasal congestion and usually on one side
headaches that get worse when bending over
redness of the skin of the nose from the side of the inflamed sinus

The video will introduce the main symptoms of sinusitis:

The diagnosis of sinusitis is made based on the results of tests of nasal discharge and an x-ray.

Why is this symptom dangerous?

If the pathology is not treated, the risk of infection entering the brain increases. The consequence of this pathological condition can be meningitis, which often ends in the death of the patient.

Untreated yellow snot can cause pharyngitis and dental problems. If yellow liquid appears from the nose, you should consult a specialist as soon as possible. He will conduct a thorough examination and find out what caused the disease.

Yellow water from nose

Nasal discharge is produced by the mucous membrane in response to irritants : allergens, dust, viruses, bacteria. Their color, consistency and accompanying symptoms help identify the cause of the ailment.

Causes of yellow water from the nose

Allergies and respiratory disease are the most common culprits for excess moisture in the nose. Allergic rhinitis is accompanied by itching of the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx and eyes.
A viral infection adds fever and burning in the nasopharynx to heavy nasal discharge . A few days after the onset of the disease, the liquid acquires a viscous consistency and yellow color.

Photo 1: Yellow liquid flowing from the nose is not an independent illness, but one of the symptoms of the disease. Source: flickr (dr.art).

Diseases and problems of the body

A dangerous condition is considered when yellow liquid flows from the nose, there is a headache, pain is felt on the sides of the bridge of the nose, radiating to the roots of the upper teeth and eye sockets, the feeling of fullness intensifies when bending over. This indicates an inflammatory process in the maxillary sinus, when pus is mixed with nasal mucus.

If the contents of the sinuses come out freely when you blow your nose, there is nothing to worry about. And when there is no outflow, the headache increases and urgent medical attention is needed . There are eloquent signs of sinusitis and sinusitis.

The acute condition of sinusitis is complemented by high fever and pain on palpation in the projection of the maxillary sinuses.

Chronic inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is manifested by permanent rhinitis, swelling of the nasopharynx, forcing one to breathe through the mouth, and painful sensations around the eyes.

Sinusitis is characterized by less intense pain and no fever . The condition is alleviated by the ability to free the sinus cavity from mucopurulent discharge with an unpleasant odor. Accompanying symptoms: headache, swelling of the nasopharynx.

The presence of a cyst in the maxillary sinus. A benign formation - a cyst - is manifested by periodic nasal congestion and chronic discharge of yellow fluid. A growth appears due to advanced rhinitis and pathologies of the sinus structure.

Important! If the cold ends with yellow snot, strength is restored, the temperature does not rise, the headache subsides, there is no pathology, the patient does not need to worry.

Yellow sticky water from nose

If the nasal discharge appears watery in appearance, but when it dries, it has a starchy surface. It is enough to look at a handkerchief to determine that this discharge is different from ordinary snot. This is what cerebrospinal fluid looks like - nasal fluid, which often appears after traumatic brain injuries, after surgery to remove polyps, pathologies of the skull and spine. This fluid usually comes out of one nostril and contains sugar, so it feels sticky. The disease can be determined using CT or radiography.

Drug treatment

If there is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are prescribed

If the mucus discharged from the nose has a putrid odor, this is a sign of the bacterial nature of the infection. In such a situation, antibacterial drugs will be required to solve the problem.

In the absence of any complications, treatment is carried out using penicillin series of potent drugs. If you are allergic to this group of medications, doctors usually prescribe cephalosporins and macrolides.

To destroy bacteria in the body, the following systemic medications are indicated:

Cefuroxime
Amoxicillin
Panclave

You can get rid of pathogens localized in the source of inflammation using nasal antibiotics:

Bioparox
Isofra
Sofradex

It is necessary to take medications according to the regimen selected by the doctor. With poor treatment, pathologies can become chronic, which increases the risk of cystic formations in the maxillary sinuses and inflammation of the lower respiratory tract.

If yellow nasal discharge is caused by fungal infections, treatment is carried out with antifungal drugs. It is possible to quickly cope with pathogenic microorganisms with the help of drugs such as Ketoconazole or Intraconazole.

Nasal drops will help relieve congestion and free up nasal breathing.

The following medications may be prescribed for local adjuvant therapy:

Vasoconstrictor drops help reduce tissue swelling and restore the outflow of mucus from the appendages. Such drugs as Nesopin and Rinotayss give a good effect.
Mucolytic agents help reduce secretion viscosity. It is possible to quickly cope with the problem thanks to such remedies as Sinuforte, Sinupret and Rinofluimucil.
Local antiseptics disinfect the nasal mucosa and help prevent the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. Most often, drugs such as Chlorophyllipt, Miramistin and Furacilin are prescribed for treatment.
Using rinsing solutions, it is possible to remove swelling of the tissue and clear the nasal cavity of secretions. Treatment is carried out using medications such as Quix, Aqualor and Dolphin.
Moisturizing drops prevent the nasal passages from drying out and increase local immunity. Such drugs as Salin, Pinosol and Morenasal are considered especially effective in the fight against diseases.

After completion of conservative treatment, physiotherapeutic procedures are recommended. It is possible to restore blood circulation and accelerate the healing of the paranasal sinus mucosa with the help of laser and magnetic resonance treatment.

Traditional treatment

Rinsing your nose will help cure sinusitis faster

Traditional medicine offers a large number of recipes that can help you cope with yellow nasal discharge:

You can cure sinusitis with propolis tincture by dissolving a tablespoon of the product in a glass of boiling water. After this, you need to bend over the container and breathe in the steam for about 10 minutes, 2 times a day.
Another effective remedy is a mixture of linden honey, aloe and celandine herb. All components are combined, mixed and simmered over low heat. The resulting mixture should be poured into a glass container and left for 3-4 hours. The medicine should be instilled 4-5 drops into each nostril several times a day.

A good effect in treating yellow discharge is achieved by inhalation using a nebulizer using alkaline water or aromatic oils. In addition, you can instill aloe or Kalanchoe juice into your nose, diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio.

Surgery

If the cause of yellow nasal discharge is a cyst of the maxillary sinuses, then doctors may resort to surgical intervention. Typically, surgery is performed if it begins to actively grow and causes problems with breathing and oxygen supply to the body. The consequence of this may be the progression of pathologies of the heart and vascular system.

Surgery is indicated in the presence of a cyst

The operation can be performed in the following ways:

The classic method is to remove the cystic formation by making an incision in the lip area. The disadvantage of this procedure is the fact that the sinus loses its former appearance, and tissue scarring begins at the site of the opening. All this significantly increases the likelihood of developing chronic sinusitis.
The endoscopic method is less traumatic because instruments are inserted through the nasal cavity to remove the cyst. This type of surgery does not require an incision, which reduces the risk of complications.

Yellow nasal discharge can appear for various reasons and often becomes a sign of serious pathologies. In the absence of effective treatment, the risk of developing dangerous complications increases and death is possible. It is for this reason that at the first signs of a pathological process you should consult a doctor.

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Yellow colored water coming from the nose is not normal. This condition is subject to mandatory treatment, which is accompanied by a search for the cause and its elimination.

Interesting! Liquid of any color discharged from the nose is a symptom that signals the presence of a disease that can manifest itself at any time!

Causes

The discharge of clear water from the nose may well be a physiological norm for the body if a person has been exposed to low temperatures for a long time or has been actively engaged in physical exercise.

Also, clear nasal discharge can be observed when an allergic reaction develops, accompanied by lacrimation, and when infected with ARVI. In the first case, you need to contact an allergist who will help identify the allergen and give recommendations regarding the prevention of allergies. In the second case, with proper treatment, nasal discharge goes away on its own.

It’s another matter if the discharge of yellow liquid from the nose is accompanied by headaches, especially when tilting the head or turning it in different directions. This is already a symptom of more serious diseases and a reason to seek advice from a specialist.

The reasons why yellow water flows from the nasal passages may be as follows:

Development of sinusitis;
Development of sinusitis;
Development of maxillary sinus cysts.

All of the diseases listed above are not so terrible, but they become dangerous in the form of complications. This is why it is important to get treatment promptly.

Other causes of yellow discharge

If you have a stuffy nose, trouble breathing and a headache, sinusitis is suspected. The disease develops in adults and children, and without adequate treatment it becomes chronic. When diagnosing, take into account the shade, abundance and consistency of snot, and other symptoms of damage to the ENT organs. Self-medication is contraindicated.

What is sinusitis

With maxillary sinusitis, the inflammatory process is concentrated in the maxillary sinuses. Microbes (staphylococci, streptococci, etc.) enter through the nasal passages and become established in the epithelial layer of the mucous membrane.

During active reproduction, they penetrate into the drainage ducts connecting the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Microbes reside and multiply in the mucous layer, causing swelling and snot.

The initial stage of sinusitis develops.

Stages of development

Without timely therapy, the acute stage of the disease is modified into chronic and cannot be cured. Based on the external characteristics of the exudate, the stage of the pathological process and the treatment regimen for a quick recovery are determined. The stages of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses are:

Initial (catarrhal form). Transparent, white discharge from the nose of a liquid consistency without a specific odor. The symptoms of sinusitis resemble those of a classic runny nose and go away with home treatment.
Acute (purulent form). The consistency of snot is viscous and dense. The mucus contains visible impurities (clots) of blood, yellow, green, and brown pus with a specific odor. Treatment with antibiotics is necessary.
Neglected (chronic form). The anastomosis connecting the nasal cavity with the maxillary sinuses swells, and congestion develops. Snot is a gray-green dense consistency with a rotten smell. Long-term treatment with physiotherapeutic procedures is necessary.
Recovery stage. With timely treatment, the symptoms weaken: swelling of the mucous membrane, headache, runny nose goes away. The snot becomes white, its abundance decreases, and its consistency becomes thinner.

The color and consistency of discharge during sinusitis depend on the cause and stage of the pathology. With allergic maxillary sinusitis, the snot is liquid and transparent, with bacterial sinusitis it is yellow or green, viscous in consistency. With fungal sinusitis, the discharge is gray-green with a putrid odor.

When the nasal passages are blocked, a runny nose does not appear, but other symptoms of the pathology are pronounced.

This complication requires medical attention.

During the catarrhal stage of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, the snot is liquid, watery, and transparent. The absence of a specific odor means that the purulent process has not yet begun.

Symptoms of the initial stage of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses resemble symptoms of a cold, acute respiratory viral infection, influenza, and require differential diagnosis.

Other signs of catarrhal sinusitis are:

violation of nasal breathing;
nasal congestion;
swelling of the nasal mucosa;
slight increase in body temperature.

Green color of snot

Without timely treatment, the color of snot with sinusitis changes. Transparent discharge takes on a green tint. This is a sign of the activity of the bacterial flora and the formation of purulent masses. The consistency of the snot becomes thick, and its removal from the nasal passages is impaired.

When you blow your nose, clots of pus with blood spots come out.

Other symptoms of purulent sinusitis are:

headaches, migraines;
fever;
swelling of the nasopharynx;
pain in the jaw, frontal, occipital, temporal areas;
decreased sense of smell;
pain when turning the head;
nasal congestion;
lacrimation from the eyes.

Sinusitis

If yellow discharge flows from the nasal passages, then the most obvious reason for this phenomenon is the development of sinusitis.

Sinusitis is an inflammatory process that affects the paranasal sinuses. Sinusitis can develop in acute or chronic form, and depending on the form, symptoms will vary, which makes diagnosis easier.

Acute sinusitis is accompanied by:

Paroxysmal changes in temperature;
The appearance of headaches in response to head movements, especially bending;
The appearance of pain in response to pressure on the infraorbital areas;
The appearance of copious mucous discharge and yellow color.

Chronic sinusitis has slightly different symptoms:

Difficulty with nasal breathing;
The development of rhinitis, which is permanent or worsening;
Cough.

The main difference between acute and chronic sinusitis is that the pain in the orbital area in the second case is not so severe. However, in both acute and chronic sinusitis, yellowish liquid flows from the nasal passages.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is another reason why yellow water may be leaking from the nose. Sinusitis develops in response to bacterial, fungal or viral infection. The fluid released from the nasal passages is not only yellow in color, but also has an unpleasant odor.

There are a number of symptoms that help suspect the development of sinusitis:

The development of pain both at rest and if the sinus area is pressed or the head is tilted - this is explained by the movement of pus inside the sinuses;
Increasing pain in the head;
Difficulty in nasal breathing mainly on one side only;
Complaints of loss of smell or decreased ability to distinguish odors;
The water that flows from the nasal passages is not only yellow, but also purulent in nature;
The cough is dry at night and usually less pronounced during the day;
Redness of the skin on the side of the affected sinus;
Temperature surges.

Maxillary sinus cyst

A common reason why yellow water flows from the nasal passages is a sinus cyst. A cyst is a neoplasm that is benign and filled with fluid. Most often, the cyst is not accompanied by any complaints from patients, but is discovered completely by accident. Sometimes people may complain about:

difficulty breathing through the nose due to congestion; this phenomenon is temporary, but relapses are frequent;
when tilting the head, yellowish discharge flows from the nose on one side;
headaches or pain when pressing on the sinus area.

Maxillary sinus cyst

In the case of a maxillary sinus cyst, the yellowish fluid that flows from the nose is a secretion that accumulates in the cyst.

It is worth keeping in mind that a change in the color of the fluid from yellow to brown indicates some kind of injury that led to a violation of the integrity of the cyst. If the injury is serious, blood clots or streaks may be mixed with the discharge. Rupture of a maxillary sinus cyst is a direct indication for hospitalization of a person in a hospital and treatment there.

Important! If you can remember and tell the doctor what diseases you have recently had, whether your face has been injured recently, and also describe in detail the nature of nasal discharge, then this information will greatly facilitate the diagnosis, allow you to select the most effective therapy and begin treatment faster.

If liquid with a yellow tint flows from the nasal passages, this indicates the development of diseases that, in their advanced form, are dangerous in their consequences.

Since it is impossible to independently determine the cause at home, if you have nasal discharge of any nature, you are advised to seek help from a doctor.

Other causes of nasal discharge

If yellow liquid flows from the nose, perhaps this has nothing to do with the diseases discussed, but is associated with other, completely harmless phenomena. In the end, the mucous membrane should always be moisturized to protect the respiratory tract from various infections, but sometimes it can work more intensely, for example, if you go into a warm room after being in the cold.

The symptom should be short-lived. Without a timely reaction, we may end up with thick, colored snot in a few days.
If yellow water flows from your nose, you should immediately contact an ENT specialist.
Brown water runs from the nose due to blood getting into the clear mucus. This is a clear sign of a complication of the disease or a consequence of injury or surgery.
Acute respiratory infections are always accompanied by headache and fever. Timely treatment eliminates any unforeseen complications.

By color
Nasal discharge is quite normal for humans. But if it turns any color, you should immediately consult a doctor. Yellow sticky fluid from the nose can signal inflammation or progressive disease. But the cause of the color change may also be a side effect from taking medications or abuse of vitamin complexes sold in pharmacies. Sometimes this is a sign of allergic reactions.

There are also quite harmless cases of liquid turning yellow. It happens that there are no symptoms of any disease at all. Nevertheless, yellow liquid began to flow from the nose. This may be a consequence of eating large quantities of food that contains a lot of dyes. And even due to an excess of food, which contains a lot of carotene.

When eating persimmon in large quantities, the liquid flowing from the nose often turns yellowish. At the same time, the skin and palms become the same color. And this phenomenon can be confused with jaundice. In any case, if, after removing food containing natural or artificial dyes from the diet, the liquid does not change color to transparent, you should immediately consult a doctor.