Need help - dark orange mucus coming out of my nose!

Hey all,

I've experienced the same thing. I originally blew my nose really hard on the left side, and saw the orange mucus a few days later in that nostril (with blood), but had green snot from the right nostril.

I am also dealing with a kidney stone, and I think the combination of the drugs I've been taking for that...along with the extreme dry conditions in Utah have contributed to the problem.

I now have a clear left nostril (easily breathable). The right side is now excreting several colors orange, green, yellow, clear (I do also get blood or 1 or 2 small veins in the mucus now and then...almost looks like the ones that are in my eyes when they are bloodshot). I have a lot of pain where my eye brow is located, along with the cavity behind my right eye. I also have a headach. The pain frequently shoots down to my molar on the right lower side of my mouth.

I may see a doctor again tomorrow. However, since the other nostril has healed...I think things might be fine and may not go.

My assessment after study is this:

If you have the orange snot it is likely one of two things.
1- Dry climate
2- Acute sinus infection. (If you have pain beind the eye like I have it may be your sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses). See http://www.medicinenet.com/sinusitis/article.htm
3- Allergies
4- Even high stress can cause Vasomotor Rhinitis, which is inflammation of the nose and nasal membranes. See http://www.drpaulyazbek.com/practice/nose11.html (Toward the bottom).

It states "In addition to allergies and infections, other events can also cause nasal blood vessels to expand, leading to vasomotor rhinitis. These include psychological stress, inadequate thyroid function, pregnancy, certain anti-high blood pressure drugs, and overuse or prolonged use of decongesting nasal sprays and irritants such as perfumes and tobacco smoke."

Hope this helps. I am taking my family to Disneyland in 2 days. I hope this passes, but I will be looking forward to some humidity as I think this will really help. This month has been the worst of my life for health...can't wait till it's over.

PS If you need some humidity I recommend using http://www.guestassured.com for hotel, car rental, and cruises. :-)

I'm having the same problem...dark orange/reddish mucous, it's also very thin. This is the only info on the internet I have seen.

I've had a cold for over 2 weeks and was just given zithromax (antibiotic) and xpect-hc (expectorant/cough medictaton). Could it be a side effect of the medication?

went to the ENT today for a sinus infection. he said it was drainage. he said decongestants, mucinex, antibiotics and saline spray to help clear it out.
though mine only started last week after a root canal on one of my upper teeth. the root was long enough that it was into my sinus. when the dentist used the sanitzing solution to clear out the root remainder it went right into my sinus. It irritated my sinus enough to cause the infection. But this was the first time I've come up against the orange liquid. Scared the heck out of me. And it really does decide to leak out at the wrong times.

feel better everyone!!!

lol, same happend 2 me, ill let u know if it kills me :p

Wow-- This seems to be a pretty common thing after all. I'm just coming off a cold and landed smack into the begining of my allergies... A few times tonight I've blown my nose and it's come out orange-- a color I'd never seen before!

From what it sounds, in here at least, it seems like an infection. Guess I'll drown myself in fluids tonight/tomorrow and see if it helps. Hopefully it will as I don't want to have to take anitbiotics!

I had this happen the last couple of days and this is the only thing I could find online about the orange stuff. It's so weird. I've got the burning and a weird chemical smell too. I just came off a bout with a cold and strep throat... did anyone end up getting rid of it?

The orangey mucus could be two things:

It could be blood mixed with phlegm

or

it could be: are you ready ... it aint nice.: ear wax. The ear nose and throat passages are all connected. go to your doctor you may have an ear infection.

I've been experiencing the same orange mucous (the color of orange juice or an egg yolk) when blowing my nose. Other symptoms include fever, a headache and a lousy overall feeling. Almost flulike symptoms. I believe it may be pollen accumulating in my sinus cavities. I had an Easter Lilly indoors and it's a huge pollen producer. The color of the pollen on the lilly is exactly the same as the mucous. Since I've taken it outdoors I've noticed a little less orange mucous. However, it's in the air like crazy since Spring has arrived. So perhaps it's pollen!!! It looks like the postings on this topic were made about a year ago. So maybe pollen was the problem with you all last year. This is the first time I've experienced this too. I guess wearing a dust mask 24 / 7 must be the only answer.

I've had the same thing and can't seem to find anything definitive on the internet. I've had a cold on and off for 5 weeks now (longest of my life). After the first 2 weeks, it developed into a sinus infection. Saw the doctor, he got me on an antibiotic called amoxicillin. After 10 days of that, was feeling better. But the cold (runny nose and cough) came back after a few days and has lingered for 2 more weeks. It wasn't until the last 5 days that I've had what is like a discharge of bright orange mucus that's fairly thin come out of my right nostril. It's happened 4 out of the past 5 days, it always happens late morning for me (around 11am) and it happens for just about 5 minutes. I blow through about 4-8 tissues full of this orange mucus. Then it stops and I'm back to regular clear colored mucus. Has anyone found any links that describe this symptom by a professional?

I noticed a few of you said something about a urinary tract infection. If you had the orange while taking medicine for that it was the medicine. They have ones that turn everything blue, and ones that turn everything orange. Maybe everyone that had been sick took the same antibiotic or other medicine that caused it?

This started happening to me the last few days. An orange watery fluid that pours out of my nose if I bend over too fast. I'm 33, male... had the flu last week, worst I've had since I was a kid. Horrible coughing, sinuses going nuts.

I've pinpointed exactly where this orange fluid is coming from in me. It's under my left cheekbone, in the area that seems right above the teeth and gums. It comes out of my left nostril.

I leaned over yesterday and massaged this area and collected a bit of it in a cup and put it in the freezer. If it doesn't go away soon, I'm taking it to the doctor. Whether they like it or not! Haha.

It has the same consistency and color of the junk that ran out of a oral cyst on my gums I had once when I was a kid. That makes me wonder if it's a sinus infection spread to a tooth or the gums in that area, because the roots do often protrude into the sinus cavity.

Well at least I know the problem isn't just with me or an aussie illness. Orange liquid just runs and drips whenever the head is tilted forward (espically when doing shoes) and flows freely. Thick orange mucus in shower this morning. I've had this for about 4 weeks now on and off. Maybe time to see doctor. Forget pollen as I got in summer, forget a cold as haven't had one for about 6 months, nope no plane trips either. Thinks just a good old freak infection.

As many of you have already said, I'm really surprised that so many people have had the same weird orange mucous problem. I too have had a cold for about two weeks. I didn't really take care of myself during the first week, so it got progressively worse and I got bronchitis the second week. Now I'm in the beginning of the third week, and getting the orange mucous. At first I thought it might have been from some food I had been eating (mangoes, actually) but now I'm pretty sure it's probably a minor infection, since it's been draining for two days now. Hope it doesn't continue, as I hate taking antibiotics.

This happens following cocaine use and dissapeard in a few days.

I came down with a cold. turned into a sinus infection, and started having orange mucus now for several days. Thin, and orange-juice colored. Have been taking Azithromycin, but it doesn't fic orange mucus, just green mucus.