What happens if you have a runny nose

Something irritating or inflaming the nasal tissue of the nose is what causes it to become runny. To a stop a runny nose, a person will either need to stop what is irritating or inflaming their nose or take medications that will help reduce the inflammation and production of mucus.

A runny nose is the body’s way of getting rid of any germs that might be irritating or inflaming it. The nose produces clear mucus, which can turn yellow or green after a few days.

In medical literature, professionals call a runny nose rhinorrhea. A person may have a runny nose because they are allergic to something, due to a viral or bacterial infection, or as a result of of environmental factors such as temperature.

Below, we take a look at some of the common causes of a runny nose.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), allergies occur because a person’s immune system reacts to a particular substance, or allergen.

Some common allergens include pollen, animal dander, and dust.

This reaction can cause several symptoms to develop, including a runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, or coughing.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the typical treatment options for allergies include using:

  • antihistamines
  • decongestants
  • nasal steroids

Antihistamines work by blocking the receptors in a person’s body that cause inflammation. According to an article in the journal Advances in Dermatology and Allergology, a person can take second-generation antihistamines up to four times above the recommended dose if the recommended dose does not help after a period of time.

According to the AAFA, decongestants work by reducing the swelling in the nose that is causing the congestion.

Nasal steroids also reduce swelling in a person’s nose, but they do so using a different mechanism.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many viruses can cause the common cold, though the most common is rhinovirus.

A cold can cause a person to have a runny nose. Other symptoms of a cold can include:

  • sneezing
  • a congested, or blocked, nose
  • a sore throat
  • headaches
  • body aches

Colds are usually worse during the second or third day and can last for as long as 2 weeks in some cases.

Colds do not require any treatment. According to the CDC, a cold will get better on its own.

To help themselves feel better, however, a person should “rest and drink plenty of fluids.”

Share on PinterestSinusitis shares some symptoms with the common cold.

Sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses. Sinusitis occurs when fluids cannot leave a person’s sinuses, which allows germs to develop.

The cause is usually a virus, but occasionally, it can be a bacterial infection.

According to some experts, most people who have a cold will also have infected sinuses.

As well as a runny nose, sinusitis has other symptoms similar to those of a cold.

A medical professional can determine whether a person’s sinusitis is due to a bacterial infection or a virus. If it is due to a bacterial infection, they may prescribe antibiotics.

If a person’s sinusitis occurs because of a virus, resting at home should be enough to treat the infection.

Runny nose is preventable by either resolving the underlying cause or taking medications to reduce the symptoms.

For example, if someone has a runny nose because they are allergic to cats, avoiding cats, taking antihistamines, or both should prevent a runny nose from developing in the future.

Alternatively, if their runny nose happens because of a cold, resting until their immune system has fought off the infection should get rid of the symptoms.

Share on PinterestResting and staying hydrated can help treat a runny nose.

The outlook for a runny nose depends on the underlying cause.

However, once a person has determined the cause, there are usually straightforward steps they can take, including resting, staying hydrated, or taking antihistamines, to make their nose stop running.

If these steps do not work, it may be necessary to speak to a medical professional.

When to see a doctor

If a person has gotten rid of the underlying causes of their runny nose but their nose is still running, they should speak to a doctor.

It is common to have a runny nose.

This symptom develops because of something irritating or inflaming a person’s nasal tissue. Once they have determined the cause, it is usually easy to treat a runny nose with self-care and by taking over-the-counter medications.

What is rhinorrhea or runny nose?
Rhinorrhea, or a runny nose, happens when excess fluid drains from the nose. The fluid is mucus that is thin or thick, clear or opaque, and can be intermittent or constant.

What causes rhinorrhea?
The nose and sinuses normally produce mucus which keeps the nose moist and is typically swept back into the throat and swallowed. There are many conditions that can cause the nose to run, including:

  • Colds and flus: Mucus from illnesses can fill the nasal cavity and cause temporary nasal obstruction.
  • Crying: When you cry, tears drain through the tear ducts, into the nasal cavity, and then into the nose. 
  • Cold Weather: Cold weather can sometimes cause a reaction which produces mucus.
  • Infections of the sinuses and or adenoids: The sinuses, or cavities of the face that drain into the nose, can fill with infected mucus resulting in sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses). The adenoids, tissue found in the back of the nose (nasopharynx), in children can also get infected and result in a similar production of infected mucus.
  • Allergic rhinitis: Mucus can result from allergies, or a nasal reaction to allergens such as pollen or pet dander.
  • Non-allergic rhinitis: Mucus can result from a nasal reaction to an irritant like smoke or pollution, or the body’s reaction to other stimuli like cold weather or hot food.
  • Large/swollen turbinates: The bones along the inside the nose (turbinates) can swell due to allergies or infections and result in nasal obstruction.
  • Large adenoids: When the tissue in the back of the nose in children is enlarged.
  • Nasal polyps: Grape-like growths in the lining of the nose.
  • Foreign body insertion: Often in younger children, the cause of obstruction may be the placement of an object in the nose, such as a peanut or a bead, causing obstruction, and foul smelling mucus drainage.
  • Nasal cysts or tumors: Rarely, obstruction is from benign or malignant tumors, or cysts, more commonly seen when the symptoms affect only one side of the nose.
  • Choanal atresia or piriform aperature stenosis: Choanal atresia describes the situation when the back of the nose (nasopharynx), is closed off with bone and/or tissue at birth. When this is present on both sides (bilateral), it is often found right after birth. However, if it is only present on one side, it is often not discovered until later in life. Piriform aperature stenosis describes when the bony nasal opening is narrow, obstructing the nose.
  • Deviated nasal septum: The right and left sides of the nose are separated by a wall made of bone and cartilage called the nasal septum. At times, the septum can lean more to one side, causing obstruction on that side. This deformity can be present at birth or a result of trauma to the nose later in life.

Why is rhinorrhea a concern?
Often, rhinorrhea goes away on its own. When it persists, or lasts longer than 10 days, a runny nose can be a sign of other conditions, such as those listed above. If a high fever is present, consult your doctor.

How do we evaluate rhinorrhea?
When a runny nose is persistent, your child may be asked to see an allergist by your primary care doctor.  Your child may also be asked to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (Otolaryngologist). The specialist will get a complete history and examine the front of the nose, and just along the inside.  A speculum may be used for a better view of the nose, and in some cases, a flexible fiberoptic camera may be used to evaluate the entire nasal cavity to the very back of the nose (nasopharynx). This can be done in clinic without the need for general anesthesia.

How is rhinorrhea treated?
Once the source of the runny nose is found, treatment can include watchful waiting, washing the nose with nasal rinses, medications taken by mouth or sprayed into the nose, or even surgery.

What are the long-term effects of rhinorrhea?
Depending on the source of the runny nose, the long-term effects can vary. Nasal irritation and nasal obstruction can impact a child’s quality of life if it is longstanding. An obstructed nasal passageway can affect sleep quality. Breathing from the nose is also important for facial development in childhood. Rarely, acute infections of the sinuses can lead to more serious infections if left untreated.  Nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea may impact the health of the ears and hearing as the drainage pathway for the middle ear is through the back of the nose (nasopharynx).

What happens if you have a runny nose

Side view of the nasal cavity showing the bony structures inside the nose.

What happens if you have a runny nose

Side view showing where adenoids lay in the back of the nose (nasopharynx). Adenoids are made of the same type of tissue, called lymphoid tissue, as the tonsils in the throat. This tissue can also be found in the back of the tongue, called lingual tonsil.

What happens if you have a runny nose

Front view showing where adenoids are in the back of the nose, just above the mouth palate. The back of the nose drains into the back of the throat. This picture also demonstrates how these parts work together, in what is often called a “lymphatic ring”.

Learn more about Pediatric Otolaryngology or call us at (650) 724-4800 for more information.

What happens when your nose is runny?

A runny or stuffy nose can be due to colds, allergies, sinus infections or the flu. When there is an excess of mucus secretions the nose is runny. The additional secretions drain from the front of the nose, or down the back (post-nasal drip).

Are you sick if you have a runny nose?

Not necessarily. A runny nose can be a symptom of something that's contagious, like the common cold or COVID-19. But it could also have a non-contagious cause, like cold air, hormones, or allergies.