Definition

By Mayo Clinic Staff

A runny nose is having fluid run out of the nose. The fluid can range from thin and clear to thick and yellow-green. The fluid might drip or run out of the nose, down the back of the throat, or both. If it runs down the back of the throat, it's called postnasal drip.

A runny nose is often called rhinorrhea or rhinitis. But the terms are different. Rhinorrhea involves a thin, mostly clear fluid running from the nose. Rhinitis involves irritation and swelling inside the nose.

Rhinitis is the usual cause of a runny nose. A runny nose also might be stuffy, also called congested.

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April 07, 2023

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  4. Allergy-proof your home
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  8. Bronchiolitis
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  10. Chicken soup: Can it treat a cold?
  11. Chronic cough
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  14. Cold and flu viruses: How long can they live outside the body?
  15. Cold or allergy: Which is it?
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  18. Common cold
  19. Common cold in babies
  20. Does zinc work for colds?
  21. Dust mite allergy
  22. Flu shots
  23. Flu: When to see a doctor?
  24. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
  25. Have a cold? Common sense rules
  26. Have a cold? Fight back with humidity
  27. Have a cold? Fight it with fluids
  28. Headaches 101: Know your type
  29. Headaches and hormones
  30. Headaches in children
  31. Headaches: Treatment depends on your diagnosis and symptoms
  32. High-dose flu vaccines: How are they different from other flu vaccines?
  33. Humidifier care 101
  34. Humidifiers
  35. Influenza (flu)
  36. Measles
  37. Measles vaccine: Can I get the measles if I've already been vaccinated?
  38. Milk allergy
  39. MRSA infection
  40. MRSA prevention
  41. Nasal Cleaning
  42. Nasal polyps
  43. Neti pot: Can it clear your nose?
  44. Nighttime headaches: Relief
  45. Nonallergic rhinitis
  46. Pain Management
  47. Peanut allergy
  48. Pet allergy
  49. Plugged ears: What is the remedy?
  50. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
  51. Roseola
  52. Rubella
  53. Stress and headaches: Stop the cycle
  54. Stuffy nose? Try saline spray
  55. Swollen lymph nodes
  56. Vicks VapoRub: An effective nasal decongestant?
  57. Vitamin C: Can it prevent colds?
  58. Warm-mist versus cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold?
  59. Whooping cough
  60. Whooping cough
  61. Do zinc supplements shorten colds?