Runny nose is excess drainage produced by nasal and adjacent tissues and blood vessels in the nose. This drainage may range from a clear fluid to thick mucus. Runny nose drainage may run out of your nose, down the back of your throat or both.
The terms "rhinorrhea" and "rhinitis" are often used to refer to a runny nose. Strictly speaking though, rhinorrhea refers to a thin, relatively clear nasal discharge. Rhinitis refers to inflammation of the nasal tissues from a number of causes, which usually results in a runny nose.
Nasal congestion may or may not accompany runny nose.
A runny nose may be annoying and uncomfortable, but it usually clears up on its own. Occasionally, it can be a sign of a more serious problem, and runny nose may be serious in infants.
Call your doctor if:
- Your symptoms last more than 10 days.
- You have a high fever.
- Your nasal discharge is yellow and green and is accompanied by sinus pain or fever. This may be a sign of a bacterial infection.
- 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.
Self-care
Until you see your doctor, try these simple steps to relieve symptoms:
- Sniffing and swallowing or gently blowing your nose.
- Avoid known allergic triggers.
- 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 measures to relieve postnasal drip — when excess mucus accumulates in the back of your throat:
- Avoid common irritants such as cigarette smoke and sudden humidity changes.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Try nasal saline sprays or rinses.
- Post-nasal drip. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/content/post-nasal-drip. Accessed Dec. 26, 2015.
- Peters AT, et al. Diagnosis and management of rhinosinusitis: A practice parameter update. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. 2014;113:347.
- Stuffy nose. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. http://www.entnet.org/content/stuffy-nose. Accessed Dec. 26, 2015.
- Nasal congestion and rhinorrhea. Merck Manual Professional Version. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/ear-nose-and-throat-disorders/approach-to-the-patient-with-nasal-and-pharyngeal-symptoms/nasal-congestion-and-rhinorrhea. Accessed Dec. 26, 2015.
- Peden D. An overview of rhinitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Dec. 27, 2015.
- Marx JA, et al., eds. Upper respiratory tract infections. In: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2014. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 23, 2015.
Jan. 11, 2018Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/runny-nose/basics/definition/SYM-20050640