The entire nasal cavity, as well as the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses, are covered with a special mucous membrane. It produces a fluid that moistens the airways. There are many vessels passing through the mucous membrane, and it is they that help warm the incoming air. Thus, pathogenic microorganisms are eliminated. When bacteria or viruses enter the nasal cavity, swelling of the mucous membrane occurs, it is damaged and mucus is produced in large quantities. As for the color of mucus, it can be used to recognize the disease that causes this pathology. Brown snot from an adult's nose or at least from one nostril is always unpleasant, but if it is yellow-brown, then you should think twice and consult a doctor.
Causes of the phenomenon
A bacterial and viral infection that enters the nasal cavity provokes an inflammation process, accompanied by copious discharge of snot of a different nature.
Most often, patients complain of green and yellow-brown snot, which indicates the active activity of the immune system. In this struggle, a large number of neutrophils die. Brown discharge is not that common.
These discharges occur for reasons such as:
- Mucus contains a lot of red blood cells - blood cells.
- The source of infection is localized in the sinuses of the appendages for a long time. Sinusitis and sinusitis develop.
- The presence of tumors of various types.
- Runny nose in people who smoke.
- Mycosis of the nasal cavity.
Brown discharge can be a consequence of smoking cigarettes for a long time. Tar, nicotine and other harmful elements from smoke can settle in the respiratory tract. Over time, dangerous components leave the body along with mucus and sputum, which turn brownish.
Sometimes brown snot in an adult is formed due to small effusions of blood in the throat or nose, which are provoked by high dryness of the mucous membrane, hereditary or acquired fragility of blood vessels, and high pressure inside the skull. Blood that coagulates turns the discharge brown.
Sinusitis and sinusitis in adults are among the root causes of brownish snot. Such diseases have special symptoms:
- Headache. May get into the eyes or jaw.
- Feeling as if liquid is splashing in the nasal cavity. Especially when tilting your head down.
- High body temperature.
- Constant nasal congestion.
- Swelling of the mucous membrane.
During these diseases, the snot from the nasal cavity stagnates, so the remains of pus, blood and crust get into it. If proper treatment is started on time, then first brown discharge with a bad aroma will be released from the nasal cavity.
Brown snot in a child: causes and treatment methods
Mothers are always on guard if they notice something wrong with their child immediately. Brown snot in a child is an alarming sign; parents rarely encounter such a phenomenon. What to do first, how to help the baby.
Reason for change in discharge color
Only a doctor can determine the reasons. The color change is affected by:
- Presence of blood.
- The presence of brown crusts, as a result of ozena and scleroma.
- Mycosis. A fungus that attacks the mucous membrane.
- The paranasal sinuses are inflamed.
If we talk about small children, even dry air becomes the cause. It affects the delicate mucous membrane and as a result, swelling is observed. It won't be difficult to hurt her. But you still need to see an ENT specialist.
Because brown snot is also a sign of the development of sinusitis. Only the baby's discharge will be yellow-brown in color.
How does this happen?
First of all, you need to understand the reason that influenced the color change. Only then begin treatment.
- Sinusitis and its common form, sinusitis, can develop if the nose is not handled carefully. Their occurrence is also influenced by the course of the disease in an individual. Then the snot turns yellow-brown. If only one sinus is affected, discharge is observed only from it.
- Blood in the nasal passages. It can mix with mucus if there is damage. For example, minor mechanical injuries, excessive dryness of the shell. In addition, another reason for mixing blood with mucus is the presence of tumor formations.
If a child has a vitamin deficiency or fragility of blood vessels, red blood cells will also color the discharge. The color of the mucus varies from yellow to brown.
If the discharge is red-brown, this indicates that the blood is fresh. If they are dark brown, this means that blood has been in a certain part of the nose for more than 24 hours.
When a runny nose lasts for a long time, children produce green-brown mucus. Don’t worry, this is just evidence that droplets of blood have gotten into it, and bacterial rhinitis is developing.
When bacterial infection of the mucous membrane progresses, brown streaks appear in the snot. There is no need to worry, but the pathology is treated with special attention. Since it often develops into sinusitis.
- Tumor formations. In extreme cases, mucus staining indicates the existence of a neoplasm - benign or malignant. A rare occurrence, but something to keep in mind.
- Mycoses. It's all because of Candida fungi, they are the main cause of the disease. Initially, mucous discharge has a white tint. If you seek help in a timely manner, complications can be avoided. But in the later stages, the discharge takes on a dark, almost black hue.
There are many reasons for the appearance of discharge of different shades; you should not self-medicate. Brown snot from the nose is a reason to think about your health.
Medical examination
First of all, the doctor, using a rhinoscope, examines the patient’s mucous membrane for the presence of a developing infection. Then radiography, ultrasound and other necessary procedures are performed. Where the appearance of a shade of brown in the discharge is fully explored. Based on all the results obtained, a diagnosis is made. The degree of complexity of the disease is determined.
Effective treatments
Special medical procedures are not always required; sometimes it is enough to follow simple recommendations for a common runny nose:
- Carefully clear your nose of mucus and crusts.
- Blow your nose not intensively, but with some caution.
- Lubricate the inside of the nose with oil as needed.
In general, the treatment of brown snot in a child is no different from that in an adult. The only difference is that a child’s nose has a more delicate mucous membrane. Therefore, alternatively, it should not be treated with potent drugs.
Effective treatment requires a whole range of procedures. They are prescribed by the attending physician. Basically this is a nasal rinse. This is done in order to dilute the secretion. Use solutions of salt or soda. The procedure allows the child to breathe easier by clearing his sinuses. In addition, physiotherapy and drug treatment are prescribed.
For more effective treatment, many parents use traditional medicine. Combined with taking medications, washing with decoctions of medicinal herbs. Such as:
- Nettle.
- Burdock.
- Grape.
- Chamomile.
- Propolis.
- Kalanchoe juice.
Herbs have various properties, but the most important are boosting the immune system, fighting inflammation and antiseptic properties.
Treatment of fungal disease is a long process. The doctor prescribes special medications, and the patient also follows a diet. All this together leads to recovery.
If mycosis is being treated, flour products and sweets should be excluded from the diet.
You can treat brown snot on your own, but this will only eliminate the symptoms, but the cause will remain. An advanced disease will lead to such complications that it will be impossible to do without medical intervention. Thus, it is concluded that it is best to seek help from specialists.
Kalashnik Yulia
Source: https://VipLor.ru/nos/sopli/korichnevye-u-rebenka
Symptoms
Brown snot is not always dangerous. Not every case requires thorough medical treatment. For example, if we are talking about experienced smokers. But there are a number of symptoms that need to be taken into account. If you have such signs, do not delay your visit to the ENT specialist:
- Difficulty breathing through the nose. In the absence of allergic reactions and infections.
- Ulcers on the walls of the nasal cavity.
- Bleeding from the nose is long and frequent.
- Frequent exacerbations of inflammatory processes in the sinuses.
- Isolation of blood of unknown origin, which is not associated with injury.
It is worth remembering that the discharge of brown snot can indicate various pathological processes.
In some cases, immediately seeking help from doctors can save your health and life. After all, it is necessary to exclude the presence of malignant tumors.
Nasal discharge: what does the color of snot indicate?
A runny nose is a fairly common occurrence for each of us. Some mistakenly consider it an independent disease, although it is a symptom that signals pathological processes occurring in the body.
And before dealing with nasal discharge, it is necessary to eliminate the main cause that provoked it. Depending on the disease, the color of the discharge will vary.
What does the color of snot mean? The answer to this question will be given by a doctor - otorhinolaryngologist of the highest category, candidate of medical sciences - Vladimir Mikhailovich Zaitsev.
Vladimir Zaitsev conducts an appointment in his clinic
What is snot?
There is always mucus discharge from the nose. Even when a person is healthy, the nasal mucosa produces a small amount of secretions - this is the norm. In this case, a person does not even notice the mucus - there is enough of it to moisturize the nasal cavity and not enough to leak out and cause discomfort.
As soon as an infection or other pathogen enters the nasal mucosa, the receptors of the mucous membrane are irritated, the volume of secretions increases sharply, and the color of the snot changes. In medicine, this condition is called rhinitis, and in everyday life we call it a runny nose or snot.
If you look from a chemical point of view, snot is a compound consisting of water, a special protein - mucin, salt, enzymes, dust particles and dead cells.
There are many reasons why a runny nose may occur. It can be:
· viruses;
· bacteria;
· allergens;
· mechanical injuries of the nose;
· getting a foreign body into the nose;
· drug-induced runny nose (reaction to the use of medications);
· presence of neoplasms in the nasopharynx (for example, adenoids);
· hypothermia.
Each of the above conditions is manifested by nasal discharge of different colors and thickness. The nature of the discharge allows an experienced doctor to determine what kind of pathological condition we are dealing with and what caused the rhinitis.
What does the color of snot mean?
Transparent snot. In the absence of inflammation, discharge should be clear, thin and not abundant. That is, the presence of such mucus is almost invisible to humans and does not cause discomfort. Clear snot can also be a sign of an allergy.
As a rule, the person constantly sneezes and complains of itching and burning in the eyes. There are no symptoms of infectious diseases (fever, cough, etc.). Transparent snot can appear at the early stage of acute respiratory viral diseases.
At the same time, the snot is very abundant. Usually we say this: “snot is like water”, “it’s running from the nose.” With such abundant transparent secretions, the body tries to wash away pathogenic microorganisms and allergens from the mucous membrane.
In this situation, it is important to quickly take action and consult an ENT doctor to prevent the disease from developing.
gettyimages
White snot. This is a sign that the secretion has become thicker, and there is an infection in the nasopharynx. We observe this condition with the development of acute respiratory diseases.
In addition to a runny nose, the patient may have other symptoms: cough, sore throat, elevated body temperature.
Also, white discharge may indicate drying out of the mucous membrane or the growth of adenoid vegetations.
Yellow snot. This is a sign that pathogenic microorganisms in the nasopharynx have become significantly more active, and the inflammatory process could not be stopped at an early stage.
Green snot. The green color of the discharge indicates a bacterial infection.
Very often, green mucus accompanies sinusitis, for example, sinusitis, when bacteria penetrate the paranasal sinuses and trigger an inflammatory process in them. Also, green discharge can indicate purulent processes in the nose.
In this case, the mucous masses have a characteristic unpleasant odor. A “green” runny nose occurs in parallel with other symptoms: headache, cough, aching joints, etc.
Brown snot. Such discharge indicates that the discharge is mixed with blood: this may be due to damage to the capillaries, damage to the nasal mucosa, high blood pressure, the presence of neoplasms in the nasal cavity, and abuse of vasoconstrictor drops.
It is absolutely clear that the more intense the color of nasal discharge and the thicker it is, the more advanced the disease is.
Of course, it is impossible to diagnose the exact cause that caused a runny nose based on the color of the discharge alone, and even more so you cannot engage in self-diagnosis and self-medication. It is important to contact an otolaryngologist at the first signs of rhinitis in order to begin treatment in a timely manner and prevent the development of complications. Come to our clinic - we will help.
Source: https://zen.yandex.ru/media/id/5ab4a825fd96b102b0c8c3e2/5cac266fcb4c3100af394dae
Treatment with medications
Complex treatment with medications can only be prescribed by a doctor; independent therapy is prohibited. To begin removing brown discharge, you first need to understand what caused the disease.
When the patient does not have acute complaints, treatment is focused on strengthening the capillaries in the nasal cavity and restoring the functioning of the mucous membrane. For this purpose, vitamin C and preparations containing iron are used. In addition, sprays are prescribed to moisturize the nasal cavity. Cardio training shown.
If the reason lies in an infectious problem, then Derinat or Pinosol are used. These drops have an effect aimed at relieving inflammation and help the mucous membrane to regenerate and actively moisturize.
Vasoconstrictors and hormonal medications are not used in the treatment of brown snot, as they cause drying out of the mucous membrane.
When mucus is released due to sinusitis or sinusitis, treatment is aimed at eliminating this root cause. Use antibiotics, rinsing and inhalation. When a baby suffers from discharge, you should immediately contact a pediatrician.
Brown snot in an adult or child. Causes and treatment
Each of us experiences a runny nose several times a year. Therefore, no one is surprised by either transparent or green discharge. But brown snot from the nose can confuse and frighten anyone. What does this mean, what are the reasons, and what needs to be done to cope with this pathology.
Why is snot brown: the main reasons
The color of mucus discharged from the nose is an important diagnostic sign. If the snot is brown, what does this mean, it is better to ask an ENT specialist, since only a doctor can accurately determine the cause of its occurrence. However, before visiting a doctor, you can independently try to understand what causes this phenomenon.
The main reasons are:
- presence of blood;
- smoking;
- fungal infection of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity (mycosis);
- the presence of dried crusts of a dark color, which is typical for ozena and scleroma;
- chronic inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses.
Sinusitis
The most common type of sinusitis is sinusitis. With this disease, there is a focus of infection in the maxillary sinuses. The pathology can be acute or chronic.
Often sinusitis becomes purulent, and the mixing of pus with drops of blood from careless handling of the nose or the course of the disease leads to yellow-brown snot. The disease can affect both sinuses, or just one. In the latter case, rust-colored discharge will be observed only from one nostril.
Blood as the cause of mucus turning brown
Often, brown snot in an adult or child can be a result of blood getting into it , which can occur when:
- mechanical injuries to the mucous membrane;
- fragility of blood vessels caused by prolonged use of vasoconstrictors, atrophic chronic rhinitis, etc.;
- deficiency of vitamins and minerals;
- diseases accompanied by increased intracranial pressure;
- excessive dryness of the mucous membrane;
- the presence of tumors of various etiologies.
In this case, red-brown snot indicates the presence of fresh blood, while dark brown ones are observed when blood persists in one or another part of the nose for more than a day.
During this time, hemoglobin is destroyed in red blood cells, erythrocytes. The released iron oxides and other decomposition products give the mucus a rusty or brownish tint.
For example, patients who have been suffering from a runny nose for a long time often notice green-brown discharge. This is usually not a cause for concern and only indicates the presence of bacterial rhinitis and drops of blood getting into the mucus.
When the nose is bacterially infected, these pinpoint ulcerations do not heal for a long time, so the typical green snot may be discharged with brown streaks. This does not require immediate medical intervention, but special attention should be paid to the treatment of a runny nose so that it does not develop into sinusitis or other complications.
Neoplasms in the nose
At the same time, brownish discharge may indicate the presence of a benign or malignant tumor. Of course, this is less common than other pathologies, but you shouldn’t forget about it. Source: nasmorkam.
, hemangiomas and agranulomas , dotted with numerous vessels with thin walls, are most often found in the nasal cavity
Their integrity is easily damaged even by simply blowing your nose, resulting in the release of blood.
With malignant tumors, blood in the snot appears due to its destruction or damage to nearby tissues or blood vessels. Be that as it may, you can suspect the formation of a tumor in the nose based on the following signs:
- impaired nasal breathing in the absence of infection and allergies;
- the presence of ulcerations in visible areas of the mucous membranes of the inside of the nose;
- frequent causeless nosebleeds and mucus of various colors;
- regular development of inflammatory processes in the ears, that is, otitis media.
Mycoses
Fungal infections of the nasal cavity are extremely rare. As a rule, the prerequisite for their development is a severe weakening of the immune system, which is typical for serious autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, etc.
The main causative agents of mycoses are fungi of the genus Candida. In the first stages of the lesion, nasal discharge acquires a white tint and a cheesy consistency. If the patient does not seek medical help in a timely manner, he may subsequently blow his nose out of bright brown or even black snot.
Ozena and scleroma
Ozena and scleroma cause the formation of dark mucus in children and adults with equal frequency, but this is more common in women and girls. But these diseases are diagnosed even less frequently than fungal infections . Their presence is indicated by:
- decreased sense of smell;
- nasal stench;
- dry mucous membranes.
Brown snot in a child
In children, especially small ones, the most common reasons for the release of brownish mucus are mechanical damage to the mucous membranes and dryness of the inhaled air, as a result of which the mucous membranes dry out. Because of this, they lose their elasticity and swell. Therefore, it is much easier to hurt them.
However, rusty or brown mucus coming from your baby's nose can also be a sign of sinusitis. In such cases, children usually have thin, brownish-yellow mucus, at least initially.
In the absence of timely medical intervention, they can thicken in the same way as in adults and cause severe disruption of the general condition.
Children often put various objects into their noses. If they are not removed immediately, they cause inflammation and minor bleeding, which gives the mucus a brown tint.
Treatment
When brownish discharge appears, therapy as such is not always required. For example, if the reason for this lies in mechanical damage to the mucous membranes, then it is enough only:
- Be careful when clearing your nose of mucus and crusts;
- reduce the intensity of nose blowing;
- Lubricate the inner surfaces of the nose with oil if necessary.
If the air is excessively dry, you must:
- purchase a household humidifier or place wide containers of water around the house;
- use saline solutions to moisturize mucous membranes;
- Do wet cleaning in the house regularly.
In other cases, how to treat the patient depends on the cause of the appearance of peculiar discharge. So, if you are diagnosed with increased fragility of blood vessels, you should balance your diet and do cardio training. This means that patients need daily:
- bike, run, swim, or at least take long walks;
- ensure that the body receives the required amount of vitamin C and iron with food;
- take medications if prescribed by a doctor.
In case of fungal infection of the nasal mucosa, patients are prescribed long-term therapy with antifungal and immunostimulating drugs, as well as a special diet. For mycoses, it is extremely undesirable to abuse sweets, flour and alcohol, as they provide the nutrients necessary for candida for active growth and reproduction.
If you suspect the possibility of tumor formation , you should visit a doctor as soon as possible and have a rhinoscopy. If tumors are detected in the early stages, they are successfully treated, but ignoring them can cost the patient’s life.
Prevention from brown runny nose
To prevent brown snot from appearing, preventive measures are important. First of all, it is hygiene. You should not pick your nose with dirty hands, insert foreign objects into your nasal passages, sniff harmful substances, etc. Contact with substances that can cause allergies should be avoided.
If the runny nose does not go away within 7-10 days, or “colored” snot appears, you should immediately contact an otolaryngologist
to fix the problem. Green snot should be treated immediately, because the appearance of sinusitis is a factor in the appearance of brown discharge.
Sometimes the patient has to change jobs because... It is in hazardous industries that a symptom such as “brown snot” can occur.
Every person should monitor their health and, for the purpose of prevention, undergo the following diagnostic tests once a year:
- general blood analysis;
- general urine analysis;
- blood chemistry;
- fluorography;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
- consultation with an otolaryngologist, ophthalmologist, dentist, therapist.
This is just the bare minimum that will help determine your overall health. Of course, if necessary, the specialist will prescribe additional studies.
It is convenient to conduct examinations in sanatoriums, when you can devote enough time to your health during your vacation.
Conclusion
Whatever the cause of brown snot, this phenomenon cannot be left to chance.
In our article, we described in detail both harmless and dangerous causes of brown discharge. We stopped at diagnostic measures and talked about methods for eliminating this or that problem. We paid attention to the use of drugs that are used to treat pathological runny nose.
Prevention plays an important role, so it should always be remembered. Prevention is much easier than cure! If a person nevertheless discovers brown snot, the main thing is not to panic, not to run around, and not to self-medicate! The only right decision is to visit a specialized specialist - an otolaryngologist. Be healthy!
The nasal cavity, sinuses and nasopharynx consist of three membranes, one of which is the mucous membrane. Its numerous cells secrete a fluid that moisturizes the airways. The vessels passing through the mucous membrane warm the air when it enters the nose. Collectively, the mucous membrane increases the temperature of oxygen and relieves a person of pathogenic microflora.
When viruses and bacteria enter the respiratory system, the mucous membrane swells. Fluid is secreted much more abundantly. Yellow, green or brown discharge indicates respiratory disease.
The shade of the secretion depends on the processes occurring in the nose area. When the mucous membrane is damaged, blood cells from the capillaries enter the general secretion and stain it.
Leukocytes will color the snot white. If they collide with bacteria living in the secretion environment, the blood cells die and cause the mucus to turn green.
Due to a disruption in the structure of the capillaries, red blood cells enter the secretions. They color the liquid bright red. Later, hemoglobin cells are destroyed, and a dark yellow pigment appears. The secretion takes on an orange or brown tint.
Physiological reasons
In adults, brown snot indicates not only a disease, but is also the result of a special lifestyle. This phenomenon is observed among smokers and workers of industrial enterprises.
Factors contributing to the appearance of brown nasal discharge:
- In heavy smokers, brown snot is caused by tar and nicotine, which accumulate in the respiratory tract and leave the body as part of nasal secretions. Toxic substances contained in tobacco form a kind of plaque in the nasopharynx. Due to constant irritation, the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, snot appears, which mixes with plaque and forms a light brown discharge.
- Prolonged stay in a dusty and gas-filled room leads to damage to the nasal mucosa and the deposition of dust particles on the respiratory epithelium. When the dust comes out with nasal secretions, it colors it accordingly.
- The increased content of chemicals and toxins in the atmosphere contributes to the contamination of physiological nasal discharge and changes in its color. As a result of prolonged exposure to harmful occupational factors, atrophy of the mucous membrane develops, which becomes very susceptible to infection. One of the signs of this process is brown snot.
- In children, a common cause of this phenomenon is foreign bodies stuck in the nose - parts of toys, bones, seeds. They become a source of inflammation, suppuration, injury to the mucous membrane, and short-term bleeding. Clotted blood turns the snot a light brown color. If adults were unable to independently remove the foreign object from the child’s nose, it is necessary to immediately take him to a medical facility.
- Rupture of blood vessels may be associated with long-term use of vasoconstrictor drops and sprays. Their regular use usually results in atrophy of the nasal mucosa.
- Brown snot appears in individuals with peculiarities in the anatomical structure of the nasal cavity - narrow passages and multiple bends, congenital fragility of the capillaries.
- Mucous secretions mix with red blood cells during hemorrhages in the nasopharynx caused by excessive dry air and insufficient moisture in the internal nasal cavity, arterial hypertension, widespread atherosclerotic lesions, increased fragility of blood vessels, hypo- and avitaminosis.
To rid the patient of brown snot, it is necessary to correctly determine the cause of its appearance. To do this, a comprehensive examination of the patient should be carried out, including examination of the ENT organs, laboratory tests and instrumental techniques.
How to get rid of brown snot?
Treatment primarily depends on the cause of the pathology. In some cases, such as minor scratches from nose picking, treatment is not required at all. In such situations, you only need to follow some rules:
- blow your nose without much predilection, without straining;
- do not pick your nose or tear off any crusts that have formed;
- it is allowed to lubricate the nasal passages with sterile oil (usually it is recommended to boil sunflower or corn oil for several minutes); peach oil purchased at a pharmacy is also suitable for these purposes;
- A prerequisite for getting rid of pathological snot is air humidification using special devices or wet towels hung on a warm radiator;
- carrying out wet cleaning, especially in bedrooms.
In other cases, if, for example, capillary fragility is diagnosed, nutritional adjustments (increase intake of vitamin C and iron) and special therapeutic exercises will be required. Long walks in the fresh air and taking medications are also necessary. It is useful to engage in swimming, cycling, and sports games. The specialist will most likely prescribe vitamin therapy in combination with minerals.
For mycoses (fungal infections), specific antifungal therapy is required
. Local as well as systemic agents are prescribed. The treatment package includes vitamins, immunostimulants, and diet. Sweet foods, flour products, spicy seasonings and alcoholic drinks should be excluded. All these products serve as a nutritional basis for the proliferation of fungi of the genus Candida.
Neoplasms are subject to timely diagnosis. In the early stages of the malignant process, the tumor is completely excised surgically, and then radiation and chemotherapy are administered. This problem is dealt with by an otolaryngologist-oncologist in the appropriate department.
Sinusitis is fraught with serious complications
, although it is itself considered a pathological consequence of untreated rhinitis. The success of treatment lies in an integrated approach, when drugs from different pharmacological groups are used. To obtain a competent treatment regimen, you should contact an otolaryngologist.
So, the treatment regimen usually includes:
In an ENT office, a medical procedure called “cuckoo” is carried out. With this technique, the nasal passages are thoroughly washed, which is quite difficult to do on your own. The method is used in patients after 5 years.
Unfortunately, conservative treatment is not always effective.
, then you will have to resort to a more serious procedure - puncture of the maxillary sinus. The purpose of the intervention is to remove pathological contents, in our case brown snot and pus, from the sinuses. Then the cavity is sanitized with the infusion of antibacterial drugs. The method (puncture) is carried out in cases where the outflow of pathological secretions is impossible or significantly hampered.
Important!
For sinusitis, all thermal procedures are prohibited.
Treatment
When brownish discharge appears, therapy as such is not always required. For example, if the reason for this lies in mechanical damage to the mucous membranes, then it is enough only:
- Be careful when clearing your nose of mucus and crusts;
- reduce the intensity of nose blowing;
- Lubricate the inner surfaces of the nose with oil if necessary.
If the air is excessively dry, you must:
- purchase a household humidifier or place wide containers of water around the house;
- use saline solutions to moisturize mucous membranes;
- Do wet cleaning in the house regularly.
In other cases, how to treat the patient depends on the cause of the appearance of peculiar discharge. So, if you are diagnosed with increased fragility of blood vessels, you should balance your diet and do cardio training. This means that patients need daily:
- bike, run, swim, or at least take long walks;
- ensure that the body receives the required amount of vitamin C and iron with food;
- take medications if prescribed by a doctor.
In case of fungal infection of the nasal mucosa, patients are prescribed long-term therapy with antifungal and immunostimulating drugs, as well as a special diet.
For mycoses, it is extremely undesirable to abuse sweets, flour and alcohol, as they provide the nutrients necessary for candida for active growth and reproduction.
If you suspect the possibility of tumor formation , you should visit a doctor as soon as possible and have a rhinoscopy. If tumors are detected in the early stages, they are successfully treated, but ignoring them can cost the patient’s life.
Manifestations in children
Snot in the noses of children is much more common than in adults. Therefore, mothers and fathers often calmly experience a baby’s runny nose and help ensure that he breathes comfortably. However, the appearance of brown snot in a child will make any parent wary. Red or dark-colored discharge occurs when small and large vessels in the nasal area are damaged.
One of the most common symptoms of colds is nasal congestion. Blood that has entered the mucus cannot come out due to blockage of the nasal passage and, as a result of stagnation, takes on a brown color.
In addition to treatment of permanent teeth and long-term smoking, the reasons for the appearance of colored snot in children are similar to the reasons for the appearance in adults.
Why does nasopharyngeal mucus change color?
Most often, people complain about the appearance of yellow and green snot. This color is due to the accumulation of bacteria and neutrophils in the sputum. Neutrophils are cells of the immune system that destroy bacteria; their presence indicates acute bacterial inflammation.
If your snot is yellow or green, visit your doctor immediately. Bacterial infections of the nasopharynx are very dangerous and can spread to other organs - tonsils, eyes, inner ear.
Much less often, patients blow brown snot out of their nose. Some call this color rusty. Sputum can take on this color for several reasons:
- the presence of coagulated darkened blood in the mucus;
- crusts of dried snot getting into the sputum;
- smoking;
- prolonged presence of a focus of infection in the sinuses;
- mycosis of the nasal cavity.
Treatment with traditional methods
It is advisable to use alternative medicine in combination with basic drug treatment. Otherwise, the desired effect will not be achieved.
Traditional medicine for the treatment of brown discharge suggests the use of decoctions and infusions based on medicinal plants that have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties.
- Rinse the nose with chamomile decoction. Brew a handful of dry inflorescences with a glass of boiling water and leave the broth for 30 minutes. Strain the cooled product and use it to rinse the nasal cavity.
- Rinsing the nose with propolis. Stir 15 drops of propolis tincture and a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Use the finished product to cleanse the nasal cavity.
- Nasal drops from Kalanchoe. The juice of this plant can be dripped into the nose in pure, undiluted form, or treated from the inside of the nasal mucosa with a cotton swab. Kalanchoe can be replaced with a plant with similar medicinal properties - aloe.
- Beetroot nasal drops. Freshly squeezed beet juice is actively used in alternative medicine to treat various pathologies of the respiratory tract. Beetroot juice helps relieve nasal congestion, helps remove mucus and improves breathing. Beetroot juice can be replaced with onion, carrot and cranberry juice. All of them have an anti-inflammatory effect.
If brown snot appears against the background of sinusitis and sinusitis, it is prohibited to treat a runny nose by warming up the nasal cavity. High temperature aggravates the inflammatory process.
Brown nasal discharge almost always indicates complications of a runny nose. If you find them, you should consult your doctor.
The specialist will find out the real reason for the appearance of such discharge of a non-physiological color and, based on the diagnosis, will prescribe adequate treatment.
Author: Olga Rogozhkina, doctor, especially for Moylor.ru
Diagnostic methods
If the symptoms described above appear, you should immediately contact an otolaryngologist (ENT). The doctor will conduct a survey, listen to complaints, check for pain and the nature of the discharge. Using a rhinoscope, a specialist will conduct an examination to assess the condition of the mucous membrane.
Based on the examination and conversation with the patient, the doctor makes a definite diagnosis. Additional studies are ordered to confirm it. X-ray and diaphanoscopy of the respiratory organs will show the condition of the paranasal, frontal and maxillary sinuses. Ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging will give the most accurate picture of the patient's condition.
Often brown snot is a consequence of an advanced inflammatory process. Such symptoms require immediate medical intervention and long-term therapy.