Green runny nose in adults causes. Causes of green snot in a child and methods of treatment. Why does snot turn green?

The formation of mucus in the nasal cavity is an integral part of the normal functioning of the body. A healthy person notes that such discharge is transparent in color and does not have a thick consistency, but it happens that the mucus takes on a different shade. This situation can occur due to the active proliferation of bacterial flora. Leukocytes are called upon to block the vital activity of microorganisms, which themselves die during this process. When dead white blood cells join the destroyed microbes, the discharge from the paranasal sinuses becomes green or intensely yellow. They may also contain blood.

Many people do not know how to treat green snot, but this information is very important, because the intense shade of discharge from the nasal cavity indicates the development of a severe infectious lesion. A color unusual for a mucous substance can be a symptom of tracheitis, otitis, pneumonia or the formation of a purulent substrate in the maxillary sinuses, which is why it is so important to pay attention to the problem in a timely manner.

What pharmaceutical products are most effective in fighting germs?

To find out how to treat green snot, you need to visit a doctor and have it tested in a laboratory. The specialist will determine which type of bacteria is the cause of the intense coloration of the discharge during a runny nose, and will prescribe the most effective remedy to block its vital functions.

In order to prevent severe complications of a runny nose with a predominance of green mucus, therapy with drugs of the following categories is indicated:

  • vasoconstrictors,
  • antibacterial,
  • antihistamines,
  • decongestants.

Yellow-green discharge is one of the symptoms of upper respiratory tract disease, so therapy should primarily be aimed at eliminating it. Relieving the manifestation of the disease alone will not be effective. Prescribing antibiotics is an integral part of treatment if the clear discharge characteristic of a runny nose has given way to the formation of a purulent substrate.

The use of nasal sprays and drops that have a constricting effect on blood vessels is necessary to smoothly cleanse the nose of bacterial waste products and dead leukocytes. Medicines of this type relieve swelling of the mucous membrane, making breathing easier. It is advisable to use such products immediately before rinsing the sinuses with an isotonic solution. It is impossible to carry out the procedure if the nasal passages are blocked by thick deposits and are accompanied by swelling of the mucous membrane. Before clearing accumulated mucus, you can drip Tizin, Naphthyzin or Sanorin.

Each of these remedies can quickly relieve swelling, but using them for a long time is not recommended. Nasal drops quickly become addictive and also dry out the nasal mucosa. Medicines containing essential oils can ease breathing during bacterial rhinitis, which is accompanied by the release of thick mucus. For example, Pinosol drops, which have pine, eucalyptus and peppermint oil as active ingredients, have a good antiseptic effect.

A good effect is provided by treatment with local antibacterial drugs, for example, Bioparox or Isofra. You can also purchase a more effective medication at the pharmacy, called “Polidex”. It contains not only an antibiotic, but also anti-inflammatory, corticosteroid and vasoconstrictor components.

In order to relieve a runny nose, you can use medications not only in the form of drops, but also in the form of tablets. For example, Sinupret herbal pills are suitable for the treatment of rhinitis.

The antimicrobial effect exerted by the drug “Protargol” or its analogue, the drug “Sialor,” is widely known. Both products contain silver proteinate. Modern research has shown that such medications should not be used without a doctor's approval. Silver salts can accumulate in the body, so treatment with a colloidal solution of this element should be done with caution.

People with poor immune defenses are not always able to quickly get rid of yellow-green nasal discharge and other unpleasant symptoms of the spread of infection in the body. In such cases, increased intake of vitamins and strengthening the immune system using the following methods is indicated:

  • It is necessary to spend more time in the fresh air, for example, take a walk in the park, if the disease does not require bed rest).
  • It is not recommended to allow the nasal mucosa to dry out, so a certain microclimate must be maintained in the apartment. Wet cleaning, regular ventilation, and the purchase of special air-humidifying devices are measures that will help alleviate the condition of a sick person and speed up the recovery of the body.
  • It is advisable to replace store-bought drinks, as well as coffee and black tea, with fruit drinks, compotes or juices prepared at home. An excellent source of vitamins is a decoction of rose hips, so drinking it warm is recommended during the treatment of upper respiratory tract diseases.
  • The diet of a sick person should be dominated by high-quality products containing large amounts of micro- and macroelements.

Competent treatment of a runny nose in an expectant mother

To avoid complications, green snot in an adult should be treated with means recommended by the attending physician. This precaution is especially relevant for women carrying a child.

During pregnancy, many medications are prohibited for use, so if you notice that a runny nose with a predominance of clear discharge has been replaced by the formation of thick yellow or green mucus, you should immediately see a doctor. Vasoconstrictor drops and sprays are prescribed to pregnant girls only in extreme cases, for example, when there is a threat of oxygen starvation (hypoxia) in the fetus due to the lack of normal nasal breathing in the mother.

Since the appearance of green or yellowish nasal discharge is caused by the growth of pathogenic microflora, antibacterial therapy is necessary. To prevent harmful substances from entering the systemic bloodstream, expectant mothers are recommended to use local antibiotics. Their use should also be approached with caution: consult your doctor first and do not exceed the dosages specified in the instructions. To make breathing easier and remove mucus interspersed with pus, you need to rinse your nasal sinuses several times a day. For the procedure, it is better to use saline solutions or Miramistin antiseptic.

Adding iodine to cleansers should be avoided.

It is important to understand that during the period of bearing a child, herbal medicine can cause much more harm than treatment with well-chosen pharmaceutical drugs. To avoid allergic reactions, it is advisable to avoid using essential oils and not to take herbal infusions uncontrollably.

Recommendations to help combat nasal congestion

The appearance of yellow-green mucus is one of the main symptoms of the inflammatory process in the maxillary sinus. There is an opinion that regular warming of the wings of the nose, forehead and bridge of the nose helps to get rid of nasal congestion and pain in this disease, but this should not be done. The formation of a purulent substrate during sinusitis is due to the activity of pathogenic microorganisms. Exposure to heat will only worsen their reproduction, which means a person’s well-being will worsen. Such self-medication is extremely dangerous, because an acute inflammatory process in the nasal cavity can result in meningitis or other complications. Heat exposure should not be allowed even if a person has polyps or blood is discharged from the nose. The procedure is also prohibited if there is an increase in body temperature.

If you notice that the mucus secreted from the nasal passages is no longer transparent, you should stop applying bags of hot salt or sand to your face. Warming with a hard-boiled egg is also contraindicated in this case.

Quick treatment of green mucus at home is facilitated not only by modern medicines, but also by special medicinal mixtures from dried plants. Before using them, you need to familiarize yourself with the list of contraindications and make sure that there is no individual intolerance to a particular plant.

Regular rinsing of the paranasal sinuses will help remove thick green snot. Today, various isotonic solutions are available for sale, but mucus can be removed with a regular saline solution. To do this, a liquid with the addition of sodium chloride is drawn into a syringe (without a needle) and the solution is poured into one nasal passage one by one, while the contents of the maxillary sinuses exit through the other. In case of severe mucus stagnation, headaches and difficulty breathing, patients are recommended the “Cuckoo” procedure, which will quickly relieve the paranasal sinuses of accumulated secretions.

Resume

Curing green snot is not the most difficult task, especially if the medications are not selected independently, but on the recommendation of a specialist. It is important to understand that such a manifestation signals that an infection has “settled” in the body, which, if not properly treated, can lead to serious complications.

The nasal mucosa plays a very important role in the human body. Firstly, the air is heated and purified here. And nasal discharge is precisely a consequence of this protective reaction. But normally they are transparent and scanty. What does green snot mean? How to treat? You will find out the answers to these questions by reading the article.

Reasons

Green snot in an adult, as a rule, indicates the development of complications. Also, such nasal discharge often occurs due to a bacterial infection. But we should not completely exclude the role of viruses as provoking factors in the manifestation of these symptoms. After all, when the immune system is weakened, the likelihood of bacterial pathogens attaching increases significantly.

So, let's look at what diseases thick green snot is a sign of.

  1. Sinusitis.
  2. Rhinitis.
  3. Pharyngitis.
  4. ARVI.
  5. Bronchitis.
  6. Pneumonia.
  7. Meningitis.

Green discharge is a consequence of the protracted course of the disease. More often, this symptom appears in advanced conditions, when the patient self-medicates for a long time and neglects the means of traditional medicine.

Sinusitis

In most cases it occurs as a complication of rhinitis. As a result of inhibition of the functioning of glandular cells and blocking the directional movement of the cilia of the ciliated epithelium, mucus accumulates in the nasal cavity. Violation of the evacuation and filtering functions leads to the development of congestion, and this is a favorable condition for the addition of a secondary infection and the occurrence of such complications as sinusitis (the general name for all inflammations of the sinuses).

Next:

  • nasal congestion;
  • green or yellow nasal discharge;
  • headache;
  • increased body temperature;
  • general weakness, weakness.

With sinusitis? Complex therapy is aimed at eliminating the pathological focus in the maxillary sinus, carrying out local and general anti-inflammatory treatment. In the absence of positive dynamics from the use of conservative measures, puncture is indicated. Well, if after 8 rinses the nasal discharge does not go away , no improvement is observed, surgical intervention is started.

Rhinitis

Predisposing factors in the development of the disease is a decrease in general and local resistance. During this period, the saprophytic microflora of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx is activated. If we consider the typical clinical picture of acute rhinitis, the course of the disease can be divided into the following stages:

  1. Irritation of the nasal mucosa.
  2. Due to the increase in inflammation, nasal discharge becomes profuse and mucous.
  3. Green thick snot in an adult appears in the third stage.

Many people ask: why does snot turn green? This is due to the high content of blood cells, rejected epithelium and protective cells of the body such as neutrophils and lymphocytes.

Acute rhinitis often occurs as a symptom of an acute respiratory viral infection. But we should not forget about acute specific inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which is typical for infectious diseases of a bacterial nature. For example, with scarlet fever, gonorrhea, and syphilis, patients may also complain of green-yellow nasal discharge.

Treatment of the disease depends on the etiology. If green snot appears due to a viral infection, antiviral drugs are prescribed. For specific rhinitis, the use of medications depends on the type of pathogen.

Pharyngitis

Acute inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa can be either an independent disease or be of a secondary symptomatic nature. The development of the disease is promoted by:

  1. Pathologies of the nose.
  2. Diseases of the sinuses.
  3. Dysbacteriosis.
  4. Hypothermia of the body.
  5. Smoking, drinking alcohol.

In adults, along with nasal discharge, dryness, sore throat, hoarseness, enlarged regional lymph nodes, and low-grade fever are observed. Green snot is a sign of a complicated, protracted course of the disease. Nasal discharge appears when a bacterial infection (streptococci, gonococci, diplococci) enters the body. Due to the neglect of the clinical picture, along with the use of local drugs, the otolaryngologist prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs.

Acute respiratory infection

The causative agents of the disease are viruses. Green snot in the morning indicates a secondary bacterial infection. This condition is observed in the absence of rational treatment of the underlying disease, against the background of a weakened immune status, in the case of frequent infectious diseases. Patients also complain of sore throat, sore throat, nasal congestion, fever, loss of appetite, and weakness.

Doctors prescribe antibacterial drugs and gargles. The complex therapy regimen includes drugs that increase local resistance.

Bronchitis

Hoarseness, deep dry cough, hyperthermia, chills - all these are symptoms of bronchitis. There are primary (the pathological focus is localized directly in the bronchial mucosa) and secondary inflammation of the bronchi (which is a complication of other infectious diseases). More often the disease develops against the background of chronic rhinitis, tonsillitis, and sinusitis. Why? Violation of the protective function of the nasal mucosa and the presence of a stationary focus of sensitization are the main predisposing factors in the occurrence of bronchial inflammation.

In this case, patients may have a stuffy nose, the discharge becomes yellow-green in color and has a foul odor. Treatment includes the use of mucolytics, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Do not forget about the benefits that promote sputum discharge. But if you have green nasal discharge, you can start performing thermal procedures only after the doctor’s permission. Drinking a sufficient amount of fluid and including predominantly protein foods in the diet reduces the manifestations of intoxication and increases the body's immune response.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the soft membrane of the brain is manifested by a characteristic clinic:

  • severe catarrhal symptoms (runny nose, green nasal discharge, burning in the throat, sneezing);
  • headache;
  • vomit;
  • convulsions;
  • disturbance of consciousness.

An important sign of meningitis is a stiff neck. Due to muscle tension, patients cannot tilt their heads to touch their chin to their chest. This extremely dangerous condition requires immediate hospitalization. Treatment is prescribed depending on the type of pathogen. It is worth remembering: there are fulminant forms of the disease! Failure to see a doctor promptly can result in death.

We looked at diseases whose symptom is green nasal discharge. Summarizing all of the above, we draw conclusions: green snot is a bad prognostic sign. Their presence indicates the development of complications and low body resistance, so do not self-medicate. Contact a specialized medical institution for further examination, determination of the causative factor, and prescription of effective treatment.

Colds or viral diseases, which usually come in the fall, rarely go without a runny nose. If green snot appears in an adult after a cold or viral disease, you should consult a doctor. If it is not possible to visit a specialist, our article will help you with what to treat and how to get rid of green snot on your own.

Green snot requires a doctor's diagnosis

In the morning and afternoon, green discharge may be thin and transparent. This is a normal process from the point of view of the body's defenses. Mucus is a barrier that prevents the penetration of pathogens, it also protects the nasal capillaries from drying out and cracking.

Green bacterial snot is not contagious; you should be wary of clear viral discharge.

If green snot appears, you should see a doctor and prescribe treatment, rinsing or physiotherapy.

Causes of green nasal discharge

Green nasal discharge in an adult indicates a prolonged bacterial infection in the nasopharynx, untreated bronchitis or pneumonia, as well as more serious processes that need to be treated urgently. These include:

  • acute sinusitis;
  • inflammation of the trachea;
  • allergic rhinitis;
  • adenoiditis (rare);
  • sinusitis.

Green mucus means that there is a struggle between leukocytes and bacteria in the body. Leukocytes die and are released in the form of green pus.

Types of sinusitis that cause green nasal discharge

An infection that enters the nasal cavity affects two pairs of sinuses - the sinuses - and provokes inflammation. Sometimes the process occurs with the release of green or yellow pus. The severity of the disease depends on the state of the body's defenses - immunity. It matters how soon treatment was started and with what drugs.

For colds and acute sinusitis, the following symptoms are observed:

  • temperature;
  • stuffy nose;
  • headache, especially above the eye sockets;
  • blocked ears;
  • sore throat;
  • cough.

If acute sinusitis is not treated, it develops into a more serious problem - the purulent stage. An infection from the nasopharynx can cause pneumonia.

Purulent contents in the left maxillary (maxillary) sinus

If the inflammation does not go away after a week and thick green mucus appears, this indicates that the immune system needs to be stimulated. Sometimes it is necessary to prescribe antibiotics for green snot. With sinusitis and frontal sinusitis, a person is haunted by severe headaches.

Symptoms of sinusitis

Purulent discharge, which is characteristic of this disease, can be green, light green, yellow, white and dark brown. Nasal discharge is thick and has an unpleasant odor. Unilateral lesions are common. In this case, green snot will flow out of one nostril.

Sinusitis with green snot can occur without fever, but most often it stays in the range from 37 to 38.5 degrees, which may not bother the patient much. Temperature indicates a sluggish inflammatory process. The chronic form of sinusitis causes increased fatigue, deterioration of the sense of smell, and constant discharge of pus.

Complications of sinusitis

Untreated sinusitis can cause serious complications and affect the functioning of the kidneys, cardiovascular system, and brain. The presence of persistent infection causes dental disease and otitis media. Green snot in adults with sinusitis is only part of the problem.

The most dangerous complication of sinusitis is menigitis - inflammation of the membranes of the brain, which, if not treated promptly, can lead to death. Therefore, if greenish discharge appears 2 weeks after the onset of a cold or viral illness, urgent measures should be taken to eliminate the bacterial infection from the nasopharynx and sinuses.

Causes yellow or yellow-green mucus in children or adults. The causes of bacterial rhinitis are the proliferation of bacteria in the nasal mucosa. The nose is usually more stuffy in the morning. This is due to either insufficient ventilation of the lungs when lying down, or dry air in the room.

Bacterial rhinitis causes complications in the form of sinusitis, frontal sinusitis and other forms of sinusitis

Bacterial rhinitis causes a cough because infected green mucus gets into the throat and irritates the mucous membranes. If not treated promptly, bacterial rhinitis greatly weakens the immune system, persistent inflammation develops, which can cause green snot in adults, as well as damage to the nasal mucosa. If green snot does not go away when using folk remedies, then it is advisable to see a doctor and conduct an examination of the entire nasal cavity.

Treatment of nasal diseases and elimination of green snot

At the initial stage of the disease, a cold can be cured within a week. Adults often miss the moment of the onset of the disease, as a result of which the body weakens and the discharge gradually turns green. Therefore, rhinitis progresses to a stage in which the snot becomes dark green and thick, and is released when coughing with phlegm. Why is thick discharge not good? Because the body cannot get rid of bacteria and green snot on its own. During treatment, it is necessary to drink a lot and rinse the nasopharynx to help the body get rid of the infection and speed up its release.

The course of treatment for green discharge is as follows:

  1. Visit an ENT doctor.
  2. Follow the prescribed treatment by a specialist.

Green snot in adults can be cured with antibiotics (tablets and injections), bactericidal drops, and rinsing with antiseptic solutions. Medicines must be combined with traditional methods, then the effect of treating green snot will be better and come faster.

The use of traditional methods for treating green snot in adults involves taking herbal infusions and rinsing the nose with them. You can practice warming compresses on the leg area, or do nasal inhalations for green snot. Herbal ointments with the addition of essential oils against green snot are considered a good remedy.

Antibiotics for green snot in adults

Antibiotics for adults are prescribed for green snot and a pronounced acute inflammatory process. Drugs in the form of injections penetrate the bloodstream much faster and kill bacteria in the nose. At the same time, other foci of infection are also eliminated. Drugs in tablet form are more damaging to the digestive system and are less effective compared to injections or bactericidal nasal drops.

Among the antibiotics that are good against green snot:

  • Framycetin.
  • Isofra.
  • Mupirocin.

Tablets for green snot

In the form of tablets, you can take immunostimulating drugs, vitamins, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotics. At the same time, vitamins mean a lot to the body. With their deficiency, colds and viral diseases occur more often and last longer.

Rinsing the nose for green snot

Along with taking antibiotics, you should rinse your nose with saline solutions or herbal infusions. The procedure must be carried out several times a day to provoke the release of green snot from the nose. You need to start rinsing your nose in the morning, immediately after sleep.

Suitable for this:

  • Camomile tea.
  • Propolis.
  • Nettles.
  • St. John's wort.
  • Eucalyptus.

You can also use pharmaceutical nasal rinses:

  • Humer.
  • Physiometer.
  • Aquamaris.

A good effect is obtained by using several remedies simultaneously for green snot in adults:

  1. Apply vasoconstrictor drops to your nose and wait 5 minutes.
  2. Then blow your nose and remove the green stuff from your nose.
  3. Next, rinse your nose with a solution of medications, salt or herbs.
  4. Immediately after rinsing, the nose should be lubricated with ointment so as not to dry out the mucous membrane.

At least three such procedures must be done per day. After each wash, the snot becomes lighter. This means that each time the nose is freed from mucus and the bacteria present in it. You should continue until it becomes easier to breathe and the green snot goes away.

Nasal mucus is needed to protect the body from dehydration and dust through the respiratory tract. The composition of snot is water, salts and some types of proteins. Why is the snot of different colors, thick and liquid, and what to do if you notice the characteristic green color of mucus from the nose? What does green snot mean?

Colds or viral illnesses are characterized by increasing nasal discharge, which is important to treat. This manifestation indicates that the body has begun to intensively fight the disease. But sometimes the snot turns green and becomes thick. This means that a bacterial or viral infection has occurred.

The green color of mucus discharged from the nose indicates the presence of adenoids or chronic old bronchitis. This is due to the fact that bacteria and viruses lead to the death of neutrophils, and their breakdown product has a greenish color. These are on their own, and it is possible to cure them by eliminating the cause of the disease. Therefore, it is important to trust the treatment of green snot only to a doctor.

Green snot discharged from the nose is dangerous during pregnancy. In this case, contact your doctor immediately.

Why is the discharge thick or thin? This depends on the composition of the mucus and the degree of the disease, but more often it is thick in winter.

Pathological factors

If thick green snot comes out of your nose, you should immediately consult a doctor. The body fights a runny nose on its own if the discharge is clear and liquid. The doctor will tell you what to do in other cases, after conducting an examination and identifying the cause of the symptom. Pathology can only be cured comprehensively, since the use of drops or inhalations alone is fraught with the development of dysbacteriosis.

In a clinical laboratory, the discharge is examined for the presence of infection and the body's response to the pathogen is determined. Afterwards, the doctor prescribes remedies and methods that will help cure green snot. The first step in diagnosis is a nasal swab for analysis. If it shows that there are a lot of neutrophils in the mucus, then supportive treatment is prescribed, aimed at ensuring the body’s sustainable functioning to fight the infection.

Green snot and infections do not always go together. In some cases, they appear when there is a disruption in the functioning of the mucous membrane or the negative impact of the environment on it.

In this case, there is no need to treat green snot. Simple recommendations can help you get rid of the problem for a long time in the absence of viruses and bacteria:

  • walks in the fresh air;
  • healthy lifestyle;
  • Regular cleansing of the nasal sinuses from dried secretions.

If, following the doctors' testimony, it is not possible to get rid of nasal discharge and the green snot does not disappear, then another treatment is prescribed. These are procedures and measures aimed at eliminating the source of the runny nose - a viral or cold disease.

The last reason that green snot appears is chronic allergic rhinitis. In this case, conservative drug treatment is prescribed, including Loratadine, Fexofenandine, Levocetirizine or Astemizole. Make sure that against the background of this nasal discharge, pus does not begin to flow. This is a consequence of an acute purulent inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses. The disease is called sinusitis - but it is impossible to treat green snot without antibiotics.

What to do

And children are treated with both medications and traditional methods. But if the doctor decides that it is better to do both procedures together, listen to his advice.

Standard treatment includes nasal drops, sinus rinsing, and warming.

It is customary to remove thick discharge by rinsing the nasopharynx with medications based on sea water.

Today in pharmacies they sell the following products:

  1. Aqua Maris or Aqualor. Both preparations are enriched with mineral and medicinal sea salts. In complex drug treatment, saline solution is used.
  2. Another drug - Dolphin - includes microelements and vitamin supplements, extracts and extracts of medicinal plants (rose hips and licorice). Used to combat green nasal discharge.
  3. Vasoconstrictors are useful for a runny nose if the discharge is bacterial or infectious in nature. The group of such drugs includes Tizin, Naphthyzin, Galazolin, Sanorin.
  4. Protargol is a medicine with silver. A popular drug in the fight against infectious and bacterial rhinitis.
  5. Albucid - eye drops. Used to treat purulent and bacterial rhinitis.

To get rid of green discharge for a long time, it is important to clarify the cause of the disease in a laboratory. The test results will give the doctor a complete clinical picture of what is happening and determine what to do.

A runny nose often accompanies colds and other illnesses. At first the discharge is thin and profuse, and then green snot appears. How to treat such a runny nose and is it worth doing it at all?

With normal functioning of the mucous membrane in the nose, transparent snot is formed. They contain water, salt, epithelial cells and antiseptic substances that should destroy bacteria and viruses that enter the nose.

Nasal mucus deposits dust and other impurities, thereby purifying the air going into the lungs. If the immune system detects foreign agents (bacteria, viruses, etc.), the mucous membrane swells, nasal breathing worsens and increased production of liquid mucus begins. Liquid snot just pours out of your nose like a river. They easily come out of the nasal passages, but due to swelling the nose still has trouble breathing. Some people don't even need two large handkerchiefs; both get wet after 2 hours. After 3-4 days, the snot becomes thicker and acquires a green tint.

This green nasal discharge signals that the body is fighting an infection, most often bacterial. Even when a cold starts due to a virus, it is often accompanied by a secondary bacterial infection. If green snot is a common occurrence and it is accompanied by inflammation in the throat (tonsillitis, pharyngitis, etc.), it is better to undergo additional research - take a swab for the flora of the nose and throat. This will help determine which microorganisms cause the pathology. In addition, an antibiotic sensitivity test will indicate the most effective treatment method.

Return to contents

In what cases can green snot appear?

Green snot appears due to:

  1. Bacterial or viral infection.
  2. Purulent rhinitis.
  3. Complications of a runny nose, manifested in the form of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses - sinusitis, ethmoiditis, frontal sinusitis, sphenoiditis. In this case, there is a headache, pain on the skin in the area of ​​​​the sinus projection, swelling of the face, etc.

If the runny nose started out as an allergic one, and then the discharge turned green, it means that a bacterial or viral infection has also entered the nose. Allergic rhinitis does not produce colored nasal discharge.

Return to contents

Green snot: treatment methods

Treatment of a runny nose at the stage of green snot is still necessary to prevent the inflammatory process from spreading to the paranasal sinuses, ears or bronchi.

Traditional therapy includes vasoconstrictors, antibacterial and antiallergic drugs, as well as lavages, administration of local antibacterial drugs into the nose, inhalations and physiotherapeutic treatment.

  1. Vasoconstrictors. To clear the nose of accumulated thick mucus, rinsing is needed. It is imperative to instill vasoconstrictor drops before the cleansing procedure. This is done in order to relieve swelling from the nasal mucosa and not drive infected mucus further into the sinuses. You can use drops or spray Rinazolin, Nazivin, Galazolin, Sanorin, Xylometazoline, Oxymetazoline, Otrivin, etc. If a person has a strong tendency to allergies, you can take Vibrocil. It contains not only a vasoconstrictor, but also an antihistamine component. Rinofluimucil contains a vasoconstrictor and acetylcysteine, a mucolytic that thins purulent and mucous nasal secretions. It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. If there is severe dryness in the nose, and hard crusts accumulate on the walls of the nasal passages, you can use Pinosol oil drops. Kameton spray fights nasal congestion and bacterial growth. The course of treatment with all vasoconstrictor drugs should not exceed 5-7 days with 2-3 times of use during the day.
  2. Washing. 10-15 minutes after using the vasoconstrictor, you can start rinsing the nasal passages. To do this, use a syringe with a soft tip, a syringe without a needle, a special aerator bottle, a special teapot and other devices. Some people may inhale water from the palm of their hand or from a plate. Saline solution is usually used as a washing liquid. Add 1/4-1/3 tsp to a glass of warm boiled water. salt. An alternative can be a solution of sea salt (pour 1/3 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of soda into a glass of water and add 3-5 drops of tincture of iodine), furatsilin, dioxidin, decoction of chamomile, sage, calendula, etc. .d. During the day, do 3-4 cleansing procedures.
  3. Local antibacterial drugs. Antibacterial drugs are applied to the cleansed nasal mucosa - Protargol or Collargol drops, sodium Sulfacil eye drops, Albucid and Ciprofloxacin, as well as topical aerosol antibiotics - Bioparox, Isofra or Polydexa. They are used 3 times a day for 3-4 days in children and a week in adults. Bioparox, Isofra and Polydexa are very effective broad-spectrum drugs that deliver the antibiotic directly to the area of ​​inflammation. Intranasal use of IRS-19 spray stimulates the local production of immunoglobulins.
  4. Antibiotics. If the green snot still does not go away, and the patient exhibits symptoms of intoxication - headache, fever, weakness, lack of appetite, and others - it is necessary to take an antibiotic recommended by an ENT doctor. The choice of drug depends on whether the patient has pain and redness of the throat, cough or inflammation of the paranasal appendages, allergies to penicillins, etc. Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Ceftriaxone, Ofloxacin or Azithromycin are most often prescribed. If the inflammatory process in the sinuses has gone too far, the doctor may recommend rinsing the nose using a compression unit (the “Cuckoo” procedure) or piercing and pumping out pus from the maxillary sinus.
  5. Antiviral agents. Viruses are often the initial cause of a runny nose. In this case, antiviral drugs are needed - Groprinosin, Aflubin, Algirem, Anaferon, Arbidol or Remantadine in a suitable dosage.