Overview
- Dr Sina Joorabchi, an ENT specialist, outlined on social media what clear, white, yellow and green nasal mucus commonly suggest, with UK outlets amplifying the advice on October 31.
- Clear mucus is usually normal, though an excessive amount with sneezing or watery eyes can point to allergies such as hay fever.
- White mucus can reflect dehydration or an early viral cold, and thick, solid white discharge may signal a bacterial problem that needs medical assessment.
- Yellow or green mucus indicates the body is fighting an infection, yet colour alone cannot distinguish viral from bacterial causes, and green can also occur in prolonged viral illness.
- People are advised to seek GP advice if symptoms persist or worsen, if they develop fever, chest pain or breathlessness, or if unusual phlegm lasts for several weeks during the colder season.