Differential Diagnosis for Orange Nasal Discharge
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Allergic rhinitis: This condition is characterized by an overreaction of the immune system to allergens, leading to symptoms such as nasal congestion, sneezing, and discharge. The orange color of the discharge may be due to the presence of eosinophils, which are often elevated in allergic reactions.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Viral upper respiratory infection: Many common cold viruses can cause nasal discharge, which may appear orange or yellow due to the presence of inflammatory cells and debris.
- Bacterial sinusitis: A bacterial infection of the sinuses can cause purulent nasal discharge, which may have an orange or yellow color due to the presence of pus and inflammatory cells.
- Environmental exposure (e.g., pollution, smoke): Exposure to environmental pollutants or smoke can cause irritation and inflammation of the nasal mucosa, leading to orange-colored discharge.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Nasal foreign body: In children, a nasal foreign body can cause unilateral orange nasal discharge due to the presence of a foreign object in the nasal cavity, which can lead to serious complications if not promptly removed.
- Malignancy (e.g., nasopharyngeal carcinoma): Although rare, certain types of cancer, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, can cause orange nasal discharge due to tumor bleeding or necrosis.
- Rare diagnoses
- Wegener's granulomatosis: A rare autoimmune disorder that can cause inflammation and damage to the nasal passages, leading to orange-colored discharge.
- Sjögren's syndrome: An autoimmune disorder that can cause dryness and inflammation of the nasal mucosa, leading to orange-colored discharge.
- Fungal sinusitis: A rare fungal infection of the sinuses that can cause orange-colored discharge due to the presence of fungal elements and inflammatory cells.