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Runny nose
By Mayo Clinic staffMayo Clinic Health Manager
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Definition
Runny nose (rhinorrhea) occurs when nasal tissues and blood vessels become congested or swollen with excess fluid or mucous that runs out your nose or down the back of your throat. Runny nose can be caused by a cold, influenza, allergies to dust, pollen or pet dander, or as a response to irritants such as tobacco smoke. Other irritants such as spicy foods also can trigger a runny nose. Runny nose may or may not be accompanied by nasal congestion.
A runny nose may be annoying and uncomfortable, but it usually clears up on its own. Sometimes a runny nose indicates a more serious problem.
Causes
Causes of runny nose include:
- Acute sinusitis
- Bright lights
- Bronchiolitis
- Chickenpox
- Chronic sinusitis
- Churg-Strauss syndrome
- Cluster headache
- Cold temperature
- Common cold
- Decongestant nasal spray overuse
- Deviated septum
- DiGeorge syndrome
- Drug addiction
- Dry air
- Dust mite allergy
- Food allergy
- Hay fever
- High blood pressure medications
- Hormonal changes
- Influenza (flu)
- Latex allergy
- Lodged object
- Measles
- Medications
- Milk allergy
- Mold allergy
- Nasal polyps
- Nonallergic rhinitis
- Occupational asthma
- Peanut allergy
- Perfume
- Pet allergy
- Pregnancy
- Respiratory syncytial virus
- Roseola
- Rubella
- Shellfish allergy
- Soy allergy
- Spicy foods
- Stress
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Thyroid problems
- Tobacco smoke
- Wegener's granulomatosis
- Wheat allergy
- Whooping cough
When to see a doctor
A runny nose or stuffy nose is usually just an annoyance. But it can be a sign of a more serious problem, and it may be serious in infants.
See your doctor if:
- Your symptoms last more than 10 days.
- You have a high fever, particularly if it lasts more than three days.
- Your nasal discharge is green in color, and accompanied by sinus pain or fever. This may be a sign of a bacterial infection.
- You have asthma or emphysema, or you're taking immune-suppressing medications.
- You have blood in your nasal discharge or a persistent clear discharge after a head injury.
Call your child's doctor if:
- Your child is younger than 2 months and is running a fever.
- Your baby's runny nose or congestion causes trouble nursing or makes breathing difficult.
Until you see your doctor, try these simple steps to relieve symptoms:
- Sniffing and swallowing or gently blowing your nose.
- If the runny nose is a persistent, watery discharge, particularly if accompanied by sneezing and itchy or watery eyes, your symptoms may be allergy-related and an over-the-counter antihistamine may help. Be sure to follow the label instructions exactly.
- For babies and small children, use a soft rubber suction bulb to gently remove any secretions.
Try these steps to relieve post-nasal drip — when excess mucus accumulates in the back of your throat:
- Avoid common irritants such as cigarette smoke and sudden temperature changes.
- Drink plenty of water
- Use a humidifier
- Try nasal saline sprays or rinses
