Common "Nasal Discharge" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Nasal Discharge

Nasal discharge can be slimy and mucus or watery. Slimy nasal discharge is more commonly due to common cold, sinusitis, rhinitis, and allergies. Infected discharge is yellow or greenish and accompanied by a foul smell. Less common watery discharge can be more serious cerebrospinal fluid leakage from the cranial cavity. Antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, steam inhalation, saline nasal sprays, etc., help relieve nasal discharge.

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I have had excessive mucus in my throat and nose since childhood. Why?

Query: Hi doctor,I am 36 years old and have suffered from excessive mucus in my throat and nose since childhood. I take steam inhalation and perform nasal washing every day. Still, the problem persists. Because of this post-nasal drip, my sense of taste has suffered; my mouth is always salty. Because of th...  Read Full »


Dr. Manu Wilfred

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understand your concern. Sinonasal polyposis could cause chronic post-nasal drip and associated symptoms like bad breath. Therefore, allergic fungal rhinosinusitis should be considered in your case. The treatment starts with medical management u...  Read Full »

How to manage my sinus problem?

Query: Hi doctor, I have sinus issue for a year. Previously, I will have a random flare-up of 20 to 25 percent a day in both the nostrils. It seems to be fully clogged and it returns back to normal on the rest of the day. The occurrence rate has got increased in the last few months. I have constant pressur...  Read Full »


Dr. Sandeep Shrestha

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. As per the history, you are suffering from rhinosinusitis. It is an inflammation of the mucosa of the nose and paranasal sinuses. The symptoms are frontal headache, facial fullness, nasal obstruction, nasal discharge, postnasal drip, hyposmia, decrease in concentration, d...  Read Full »

I have a runny nose. Is it due to the use of an air conditioner?

Query: Hello doctor, Does daily exposure to a very cold air conditioner cause sinusitis and colored mucus in the nose? I feel freezing from the air conditioner, leading to repeated nose blockage. Initially, I used to have a running nose, but now the mucus color has turned yellow. Can the repeated exposure ...  Read Full »


Dr. Mohammed Osama Aboborda

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Yes, some air conditioners act as a home for bacteria. This bacteria can harm your respiratory system turning the color of the mucus yellow. I think that now you need an antibiotic course to eradicate the bacterial infection, and you have to clean the air filters of yo...  Read Full »

Could inserting a contaminated Q-tip up my nose cause an infection to the olfactory mucosa?

Query: Hello doctor, I am experiencing high levels of anxiety due to my fear of water entering my nose. Here is my situation: I came out of the shower and inserted a three inch Q-tip up my nose. It went in 2 inches deep from the nostrils. My fear is that my nose might have had water in it from the shower, ...  Read Full »


Dr. Akshay. B. K.

Answer: Hello, Welcome to the icliniq family. I understand your anxiousness. Please do not worry. Let me help you. The olfactory mucosa is deeply located near the skull base, specifically in the cribriform area. There is no way a QTIP can reach that space. During endoscopy, doctors employ careful maneu...  Read Full »

My nose heavy with mucus in the winters. What to do?

Query: Hello doctor, I have experienced this in the past summer a thick rubbery gooey type of mucus in my nose stuck inside for a few days, and after some time, I can expel it by blowing. Another one has formed after the weather changed and is stuck in my left nostril. I am unable to blow it out, and it ca...  Read Full »


Dr. Arpit Varshney

Answer: Hello. Welcome to icliniq.com. These are mucus plugs that form due to sinusitis in winter weather. These are normal physiological phenomena and nothing of concern. However, if they disturb you, you can visit an otorhinolaryngologist, and the doctor can extract them out with forceps within a few minu...  Read Full »

Why does my nasal discharge taste like copper?

Query: Hello doctor, I am a 22-year-old male. I have nasal drainage that tastes like copper and extreme sensitivity to carbon monoxide. No pain and hard to breathe. Yesterday, I took a shower. Today I cannot breathe when I took one. A pressure that feels sore between my trap muscles and back of the neck. ...  Read Full »


Dr. Mohammed Osama Aboborda

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. For the nasal discharge, you have to take an antihistamine tablet as Levohistam once daily with breakfast and intranasal corticosteroid spray like Avamys once daily. If the copper taste's nasal discharge continues after 10 days of treatment, you should perform a CT sca...  Read Full »

Had Z-pak and felt better. Should I get one more round of antibiotic course for recurrent sinusitis?

Query: Hi doctor, I have been dealing with sinus issues pretty much all fall and winter. Three weeks ago I finally decided to head to the doctor and was prescribed a Z-pak for my sinus infection (main symptoms were congestion, ear pressure, and lethargy, tiredness). After the Z-pak I was feeling much, much...  Read Full »


Dr. Shyam Kalyan. N

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. You do not need to go back to the doctor for antibiotics. If you were to come to me at this point, I will examine you and make sure the disease process has reduced. And if everything goes well, I will prescribe you some mucus lightening agents with anti-allergic and ...  Read Full »

Why am I having clear liquid from nose on tilting my head?

Query: Hello doctor, I tilt my head or bend over and I have a clear liquid that comes out my nose. I get dizzy if I bend down and get up. I have major headaches a lot lately, and I am scared.  Read Full »


Dr. Shyam Kalyan. N

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.cim. Collect the liquid in a clean container. Sit upright for an hour and then bend down, so that the liquid accumulates and comes down. Collect that. 1. Send the liquid for beta 2 transferrin examination, and sugar estimation. 2. Take a drop of liquid and put it on a handk...  Read Full »

I am having blood tinted crust in nose while sneezing. Why?

Query: Hello doctor,I have had post-nasal drip for the last three months. It causes me to cough up mucus from my throat. It is very thick sometimes bloody or sometimes cloudy. I am also having bloody, crusty issues in my nose with sneezing. I am not sick, no fever, no aches, and do not feel bad. I just wan...  Read Full »


Dr. Shyam Kalyan. N

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Are the pictures you shared nasal snort or phlegm from throat (attachment remoed to protect patient identity)? Do you have any difficulty in swallowing or breathing? Is there any cough? Any chest pain? Do you have wheezing? Is there any recurrent bleeding in your nasa...  Read Full »

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