What Color is Snot When Sick and Why?

[Gerenuk]

Why do we sneeze out this yellow stuff, when we have a cold? Does it have to do with bacteria? Are they collected somehow?

 

[Monique]

I'll venture an answer to this sticky question Mucus is normally clear, it functions as a natural protection mechanism of your body. During an infection you produce an increased amount of mucus and white blood cells (neutrophils) are attracted to the area to fight the infection. The neutrophils will try and combat the infection by engulfing the pathogen and secreting toxins. Some will die in the process, creating a pus. The enzyme myeloperoxidase that is excreted by the neutrophils seems to be to blame for a greenish color of infected mucus, due to the high iron-content.

 

[Gerenuk]

Oh scary...

And this happens in the nose only? Why?
There is not transport of pathogens to the nose?

 

[Monique]

Your nose is lined by a thin mucous membrane, it is where the outside air is filtered and moistened before it enters your lungs. It is where pathogens have easy access, they also really like the moist environment.

 

[hypatia]

Purulent rhinitis, is the correct name for colored snots. A out dated rule of thought was if your snot was yellow or green, the Doctor would automatically give you antibiotics. Now they know better, and wait for other signs of infection. Most often we just ride it out, with a lot of tea and soup.

 

[Monique]

A out dated rule of thought was if your snot was yellow or green, the Doctor would automatically give you antibiotics. Now they know better.

Especially since antibiotics don't work against a viral infection.

 

[lyu0001]

It possibly means that you have lower immune system while foreigh infections attacked your body. Immune cells couldn't clean faster than normal condition and caused cell damages that what the yellow stuff you see.

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Immune cells clean infections by releasing cytotoxins, interleukin factors ,etc. The damage includes pathogens, infeceted cells and normal injured cells.

 

[WadeS]

That is bacteria or more like slavia. It's not only yellow depending on how sick you are it will change: Clear=your imune system is safe. Yellow= you're immune system is in war but is winning.Green= very bad,you're immune system is losing to bacteria. Green rarely happens but to be sure I'm proud to tell you so it can prevent more sickness.
Wade.