Blood in Mucus From Nose
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Blood in mucus from nose
Dark red blood in mucus from nose
Blood when blowing nose
Frequent nosebleeds in one nostril
Blood in nasal discharge
Inside of nose bleeding
Blood in snot
Bloody mucus in nose
Bloody sinus drainage
Blood in mucus from nose sinus infection
Blood in mucus from nose for a week
About the Symptom
Nasal mucus sometimes can be mixed with bloody drainage from one or both sides of the nose (see blood from nose). This can be common and due to nasal trauma or dryness but can be serious if recurrent or if large amounts of blood are present. Medical attention should be sought in these settings.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Head injury
Possible Causes
Generally, Blood in mucus from nose can be related to:
- Sinusitis
Infection of the sinuses, which are cavities around the nose and face. The infection can be acute (lasting about a week) or chronic (lasting more than three months). Most often infections start as a viral upper respiratory infection (URI) and then bacterial infection sets in. The symptoms include fever, facial pain or pressure, and nasal obstruction or drainage. Imaging including CT scans may be necessary.
- Allergic Rhinitis / Allergic Conjunctivitis (Including Spring Catarrh)
A condition caused by allergens like pollen and dust mites, resulting in a runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Blood in mucus from nose may be related to these serious diseases:
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea is a condition where CSF, the fluid surrounding the brain, leaks into the nose and sinuses. Common causes include head trauma, sinus or skull base surgery, or increased pressure inside the skull and brain tissue. In some cases, the leak is spontaneous and the cause is unknown. Headache is a common accompanying symptom.
- Leukemia
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have thin, bloody nasal discharge?
- When did you first notice your runny nose?
- How often do you experience a runny nose?
- Regarding your runny nose, how frequently do you blow your nose each day?
- How is your runny nose now?
Reviewed By:
Eric A. Gantwerker, MD, MMSC (Otolaryngology (ENT))
Pediatric Otolaryngologist at Northwell Health and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He holds a Master of Medical Science (MMSc) in Medical Education with a special focus on educational technology, educational research, and game-based learning from Harvard Medical School and a Master of Science in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. He has a special interest in faculty development and has been a speaker or faculty at hundreds of local, national, and international courses and conferences. He is also an active blogger and podcaster for several organizations, including the Harvard Macy Institute (HMI), Harvard Medical School CME Online, and BackTable Innovations. He has been featured in the news and print for media outlets such as USA Today, Businesswire, The Washington Post, Nature Medicine, Fox News, and KevinMD. He was also the Vice President, Medical Director of a medical video game company, Level Ex from 2018 to 2023 that utilized game technology and psychology to create interactive experiences for healthcare professionals. | He is recognized as an expert on the implementation of educational technologies and gaming with a foundation in educational theory for health professions education. He was honored to be inducted as an Associate Member of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Academy of Master Surgeon Educators and as an Associate Fellow of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE).
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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FAQs
Q.
Is There Any Relation Between Blood in Mucus From Nose and Covid?
A.
Any upper respiratory infection, including COVID-19, can cause blood-tinged nasal mucus.
References:
Soloperto D, Dallari V, Caiazza N, Marchioni D. Hide and seek epistaxis after COVID-19 infection. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2022 Aug;139(4):246-247. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2021.12.004. Epub 2022 Jan 21. PMID: 35115272; PMCID: PMC8776424.
D'Aguanno V, Ralli M, Greco A, de Vincentiis M. Clinical Recommendations for Epistaxis Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jul;163(1):75-77. doi: 10.1177/0194599820926497. Epub 2020 May 5. PMID: 32366173.
Griesel M, Wagner C, Mikolajewska A, Stegemann M, Fichtner F, Metzendorf MI, Nair AA, Daniel J, Fischer AL, Skoetz N. Inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of COVID-19. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Mar 9;3(3):CD015125. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD015125. PMID: 35262185; PMCID: PMC8905579.
Q.
Why Is There Blood In My Snot?
A.
Blood-tinged nasal mucus can happen when small blood vessels in your nose break most often related to dry air, upper respiratory infections, or nose blowing.
References:
Parajuli R. Evaluation of Etiology and Treatment Methods for Epistaxis: A Review at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central Nepal. Int J Otolaryngol. 2015;2015:283854. doi: 10.1155/2015/283854. Epub 2015 Aug 9. PMID: 26346242; PMCID: PMC4546759.
Abrich V, Brozek A, Boyle TR, Chyou PH, Yale SH. Risk factors for recurrent spontaneous epistaxis. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014 Dec;89(12):1636-43. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.09.009. Epub 2014 Nov 6. PMID: 25458126.
Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470247/
Q.
What Does It Mean When I Have Yellow Snot with Blood?
A.
Yellow nasal mucus is typically related to your body fighting an infection or allergies. A small amount blood in the mucus is common and is often related to inflammation and irritation of the nasal tissues.
References:
Updated 2023 Aug 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547701/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547701/
Carroll MP Jr, Bulkhi AA, Lockey RF. Rhinitis and Sinusitis. Asthma, Allergic and Immunologic Diseases During Pregnancy. 2018 Dec 30:61–86. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-03395-8_5. PMCID: PMC7123453.
McGann KA, Long SS. Respiratory Tract Symptom Complexes. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 2018:164–172.e2. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-323-40181-4.00021-9. Epub 2017 Jul 18. PMCID: PMC7173486.
Q.
Why Am I Having Blood in Mucus From Throat and Nose?
A.
Bloody mucus can be caused by infection or irritation, but sometimes it may signal a more serious condition. It’s important to monitor the situation and get medical help if the bleeding continues or worsens.
References:
Ittrich H, Bockhorn M, Klose H, Simon M. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemoptysis. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2017 Jun 5;114(21):371-381. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2017.0371. PMID: 28625277; PMCID: PMC5478790.
Cordovilla R, Bollo de Miguel E, Nuñez Ares A, Cosano Povedano FJ, Herráez Ortega I, Jiménez Merchán R. Diagnosis and Treatment of Hemoptysis. Arch Bronconeumol. 2016 Jul;52(7):368-77. English, Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.arbres.2015.12.002. Epub 2016 Feb 9. PMID: 26873518.
O'Gurek D, Choi HYJ. Hemoptysis: Evaluation and Management. Am Fam Physician. 2022 Feb 1;105(2):144-151. PMID: 35166503.
Q.
Does It Mean I Have Cancer If There Is Blood When Blowing Nose?
A.
There are many causes for nosebleeds and, while cancer is possible, it is unlikely.
References:
Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute (US); 2002-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK66003/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK66003/
Behranwala R, Loku Waduge BH, Teo B. Nasal mucosal melanoma as a cause of epistaxis. BMJ Case Rep. 2019 Jul 12;12(7):e228640. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-228640. PMID: 31302615; PMCID: PMC6626452.
Lazar CC, Costentin B, François A, Marie JP, Dehesdin D. "Bleeding polyp" of the nasal septum: an uncommon lesion in adults. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2004 Aug;113(8):652-4. doi: 10.1177/000348940411300810. PMID: 15330146.
Q.
Why Is There Blood in Mucus From Nose?
A.
Blood in mucus from the nose is usually from a small nosebleed, which can happen if the inside of your nose becomes dry or irritated.
References:
10.1177/0194599819890327
https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599819890327
Fishman J, Fisher E, Hussain M. Epistaxis audit revisited. J Laryngol Otol. 2018 Dec;132(12):1045. doi: 10.1017/S0022215118002311. PMID: 30674370.
Tabassom A, Dahlstrom JJ. Epistaxis. [Updated 2022 Sep 12]. In: StatPearls
Q.
What Causes Dark Red Blood in Mucus From Nose?
A.
Dark red blood in your nasal mucus is often a sign of a small nosebleed caused by things like dryness, injury, or irritation. Dark red blood (rather than bright red blood) indicates older blood.
References:
Tunkel DE, Anne S, Payne SC, Ishman SL, Rosenfeld RM, Abramson PJ, Alikhaani JD, Benoit MM, Bercovitz RS, Brown MD, Chernobilsky B, Feldstein DA, Hackell JM, Holbrook EH, Holdsworth SM, Lin KW, Lind MM, Poetker DM, Riley CA, Schneider JS, Seidman MD, Vadlamudi V, Valdez TA, Nnacheta LC, Monjur TM. Clinical Practice Guideline: Nosebleed (Epistaxis). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Jan;162(1_suppl):S1-S38. doi: 10.1177/0194599819890327. PMID: 31910111.
Gifford TO, Orlandi RR. Epistaxis. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;41(3):525-36, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2008.01.003. PMID: 18435996.
Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470247/
Q.
What Should I Do When There Is Blood When Blowing Nose?
A.
If you see blood when blowing your nose, gently press the soft part of your nose and lean forward. If the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes or you feel worried, contact a healthcare provider.
References:
Updated 2023 May 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538304/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538304/
Beck R, Sorge M, Schneider A, Dietz A. Current Approaches to Epistaxis Treatment in Primary and Secondary Care. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018 Jan 8;115(1-02):12-22. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2018.0012. PMID: 29345234; PMCID: PMC5778404.
Bequignon E, Vérillaud B, Robard L, Michel J, Prulière Escabasse V, Crampette L, Malard O; SFORL work-group. Guidelines of the French Society of Otorhinolaryngology (SFORL). First-line treatment of epistaxis in adults. Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2017 May;134(3):185-189. doi: 10.1016/j.anorl.2016.09.008. Epub 2016 Oct 24. PMID: 27789155.
Q.
Why Am I Having Blood in Snot Only in the Morning?
A.
Finding a little blood in your snot in the morning can be due to mild nasal dryness or irritation that happens overnight and is often not a serious problem.
References:
Wise SK, Lin SY, Toskala E, Orlandi RR, Akdis CA, Alt JA, Azar A, Baroody FM, Bachert C, Canonica GW, Chacko T, Cingi C, Ciprandi G, Corey J, Cox LS, Creticos PS, Custovic A, Damask C, DeConde A, DelGaudio JM, Ebert CS, Eloy JA, Flanagan CE, Fokkens WJ, Franzese C, Gosepath J, Halderman A, Hamilton RG, Hoffman HJ, Hohlfeld JM, Houser SM, Hwang PH, Incorvaia C, Jarvis D, Khalid AN, Kilpeläinen M, Kingdom TT, Krouse H, Larenas-Linnemann D, Laury AM, Lee SE, Levy JM, Luong AU, Marple BF, McCoul ED, McMains KC, Melén E, Mims JW, Moscato G, Mullol J, Nelson HS, Patadia M, Pawankar R, Pfaar O, Platt MP, Reisacher W, Rondón C, Rudmik L, Ryan M, Sastre J, Schlosser RJ, Settipane RA, Sharma HP, Sheikh A, Smith TL, Tantilipikorn P, Tversky JR, Veling MC, Wang Y, Westman M, Wickman M, Zacharek M. International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2018 Feb;8(2):108-352. doi: 10.1002/alr.22073. PMID: 29438602; PMCID: PMC7286723.
Guo Y, Wu H, Wei Y. Nocturnal nasal congestion is associated with uncontrolled blood pressure in patients with hypertension comorbid obstructive sleep apnea. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Nov;279(11):5215-5221. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07352-4. Epub 2022 Apr 1. PMID: 35362753.
Batra N, Gemnani R, Singh Thakur A, Kumar S, Acharya S. Navigating Nasal Surges: Understanding Catamenial Epistaxis. Cureus. 2023 Sep 22;15(9):e45767. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45767. PMID: 37872894; PMCID: PMC10590533.
Q.
Does Blood in Snot Mean I Have Sinus Infection?
A.
------Blood in your mucus does not always mean you have a sinus infection. It can happen from other causes like allergies, dry air, or minor injuries.
References:
Updated 2023 Mar 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470383/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470383/
Lemiengre MB, van Driel ML, Merenstein D, Liira H, Mäkelä M, De Sutter AI. Antibiotics for acute rhinosinusitis in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Sep 10;9(9):CD006089. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006089.pub5. PMID: 30198548; PMCID: PMC6513448.
Long SS. Respiratory Tract Symptom Complexes. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Disease. 2008:170–9. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-3468-8.50029-8. Epub 2020 Jun 22. PMCID: PMC7310934.
Q.
What Does It Mean When I Have Green Snot with Blood?
A.
Green mucus with a little blood can mean that your body is fighting an infection, such as a cold or a sinus infection. It may happen when your nasal tissues are irritated or inflamed.
References:
Aring AM, Chan MM. Current Concepts in Adult Acute Rhinosinusitis. Am Fam Physician. 2016 Jul 15;94(2):97-105. PMID: 27419326.
nformedHealth.org](http://nformedhealth.org/) [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Overview: Acute bronchitis. [Updated 2023 Apr 18]. Available from: [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK458291/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK458291/
Chao TK, Liu CM, Huang WH. Significance of blood-tinged post-nasal drip in paranasal sinus disease. J Laryngol Otol. 2008 Aug;122(8):814-7. doi: 10.1017/S0022215107000394. Epub 2007 Sep 21. PMID: 17888198.
Q.
Why Am I Having Blood in Snot Only in the Morning?
A.
Finding a little blood in your snot in the morning can be due to mild nasal dryness or irritation that happens overnight and is often not a serious problem.
References:
Wise SK, Damask C, Roland LT, Ebert C, Levy JM, Lin S, Luong A, Rodriguez K, Sedaghat AR, Toskala E, Villwock J, Abdullah B, Akdis C, Alt JA, Ansotegui IJ, Azar A, Baroody F, Benninger MS, Bernstein J, Brook C, Campbell R, Casale T, Chaaban MR, Chew FT, Chambliss J, Cianferoni A, Custovic A, Davis EM, DelGaudio JM, Ellis AK, Flanagan C, Fokkens WJ, Franzese C, Greenhawt M, Gill A, Halderman A, Hohlfeld JM, Incorvaia C, Joe SA, Joshi S, Kuruvilla ME, Kim J, Klein AM, Krouse HJ, Kuan EC, Lang D, Larenas-Linnemann D, Laury AM, Lechner M, Lee SE, Lee VS, Loftus P, Marcus S, Marzouk H, Mattos J, McCoul E, Melen E, Mims JW, Mullol J, Nayak JV, Oppenheimer J, Orlandi RR, Phillips K, Platt M, Ramanathan M Jr, Raymond M, Rhee CS, Reitsma S, Ryan M, Sastre J, Schlosser RJ, Schuman TA, Shaker MS, Sheikh A, Smith KA, Soyka MB, Takashima M, Tang M, Tantilipikorn P, Taw MB, Tversky J, Tyler MA, Veling MC, Wallace D, Wang Y, White A, Zhang L. International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: Allergic rhinitis - 2023. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2023 Apr;13(4):293-859. doi: 10.1002/alr.23090. Epub 2023 Mar 6. PMID: 36878860.
Guo Y, Wu H, Wei Y. Nocturnal nasal congestion is associated with uncontrolled blood pressure in patients with hypertension comorbid obstructive sleep apnea. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Nov;279(11):5215-5221. doi: 10.1007/s00405-022-07352-4. Epub 2022 Apr 1. PMID: 35362753.
Batra N, Gemnani R, Singh Thakur A, Kumar S, Acharya S. Navigating Nasal Surges: Understanding Catamenial Epistaxis. Cureus. 2023 Sep 22;15(9):e45767. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45767. PMID: 37872894; PMCID: PMC10590533.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Krulewitz NA, Fix ML. Epistaxis. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2019 Feb;37(1):29-39. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2018.09.005. PMID: 30454778.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30454778/Seikaly H. Epistaxis. N Engl J Med. 2021 Mar 11;384(10):944-951. doi: 10.1056/NEJMcp2019344. PMID: 33704939.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33704939/Gifford TO, Orlandi RR. Epistaxis. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2008 Jun;41(3):525-36, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2008.01.003. PMID: 18435996.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18435996/