As cold and flu season is upon us, a board certified ENT surgeon, Dr Sina Joorabchi has explained what the different colours of your mucus mean, as it can tell you what’s going on in your body
A doctor has explained what the different colours of your snot might mean, as it can tell you when it’s time to contact your GP for medical help.
As the temperatures are getting colder, and kids are back at school, it’s usually the time of year where people start to get sick with cold and flu-like symptoms. While having the common cold usually isn’t enough to keep you home from work or school, it can still be frustrating and tiring to deal with due to all the symptoms that can come with it, such as a cough, and blocked or runny nose.
And since these symptoms can be stubborn and stick around for weeks at a time, it can be difficult to know if and when it’s time to contact your GP to get some help and advice.
To help, one Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor named Dr Sina Joorabchi has taken to his social media to explain what the different colours of your snot might mean, and how it can help determine when it’s time to contact a doctor.
“Can you tell if you need antibiotics by the colour of your mucus?” Dr Sina said at the start of his TikTok video. He then went on to explain what the different colours of your snot might mean, and when you should seek help.
Clear mucus
For clear mucus, Dr Sina explained that it’s most likely normal and healthy, unless if it’s excessive. For this, he said: “That can be a sign of allergy.”
According to the NHS, clear mucus is a normal sign of a healthy body and is produced to moisturize and protect the nasal passages.
However, an excessive amount of clear mucus, especially when accompanied by symptoms like sneezing or watery eyes, can indicate allergies, such as hay fever, or the start of a common cold.
White mucus
“Now, if you’ve got this lovely white mucus going on, it’s a sign of two things,” he said. “You’re either dehydrated, or it’s an early sign of a cold or viral infection.
White mucus is often normal, but an increased amount can signal an allergy, a viral infection like a cold, or inflammation from a lung condition like bronchitis. Thick, solid white mucus might indicate a bacterial infection that requires medical attention.
Yellow mucus
“All right, now, there’s no question marks now, your body’s definitely fighting something,” he said about the yellow mucus.
Yellow or green phlegm might be a sign of an infection, like a cold, the flu or a chest infection. While it can be a symptom of a chest infection or sinusitis, you should also consider other symptoms like a persistent cough, breathlessness, chest pain, or a high temperature.
However, Dr Sinas went on to say that there’s no way to tell for sure if it’s a bacterial or a viral infection, but that it’s clear that there’s something that your body is trying to fight off.
If symptoms persist or worsen, it’s best to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Green mucus
“Now, here’s where it gets a bit tricky,” Dr Sina said about green mucus.
He went on to explain that green mucus is a strong indicator of a bacterial infection, but went on to say that there are still other things that could be the cause of it.
“Because you can get green mucus in prolonged viral infections, as well,” he said.
While it can be a symptom of conditions like sinusitis, chest infections, or bronchitis, it typically resolves on its own within a few weeks.
When to contact a doctor
“So should you be running to your doctor, demanding antibiotics every time you have green mucus?” he asked his viewers.
The answer? He said: “You should be suspicious, but you need to keep collecting more evidence to make a strong reason to take antibiotics.”
He went on to explain that if you had green mucus, but also have a fever, or other cold symptoms that are not going away by themselves, that it makes it highly suspicious that you’re fighting a bacterial infection that might need to be treated by antibiotics.
According to the NHS, if you are experiencing having any odd coloured phlegm or mucus, you should contact your GP if you are concerned or if the symptoms is still there after a few weeks.