A runny nose can be caused by the common cold, allergies, food allergies, or bacterial infections. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, and fever. Discolored mucus may indicate a bacterial infection, but can also be present with viral infections.
There are many things that can cause a runny nose. The common cold, a type of respiratory infection caused by a virus, is one of the most likely culprits. It typically leads to a stuffy, runny nose, sore throat, and cough; it can also cause headaches, fever and changes in appetite. Many people feel especially tired even when they have a cold. The common cold is highly contagious, but is not dangerous to most healthy people.
Sometimes allergies can cause a runny nose. For example, if a person is allergic to something like flowers or pollen, their nose will runny whenever they have significant exposure to the allergen. The same goes for people who are allergic to dogs and cats. Their noses may run and they may have the urge to sneeze whenever these animals are in their presence.
Many people are most familiar with runny noses caused by allergies to things in the air, like pollen and animal dander, but a runny nose can also result from things people consume. For example, if a person is allergic to dairy products, his nose runs when he consumes them. However, this is unlikely to be its only symptom. People with milk allergies often experience symptoms such as vomiting, hives, and wheezing. These symptoms can appear right away in some people; others may have symptoms that develop over a period of time, which include not only a runny nose but also liquid-like and/or frequent bowel movements, cramping in the abdominal area, cough, and rash.
Bacterial infections can be responsible for a runny nose. If a person has a sinus infection, for example, their nose may run and nose drops may appear green or yellow and thick. Sometimes this drainage drips down the back of the throat as well as out through the nose. A person with a sinus infection may also have difficulty breathing normally through the nose and experience pain in the area around the eyes, nose and cheeks. He may suffer from fever, sore throat, nausea, and pain in his forehead, jaw, and teeth.
Discolored nose drips don’t always indicate a bacterial infection. Yellow or green mucus can be present not only with the common cold, but also with other types of viral infections. However, a person may be able to tell the difference because they have a higher fever than is typical for viral infections. Also, your level of discomfort may alert you to the fact that you have more than just an everyday cold or a common viral illness.
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