I currently have covid. I was wondering why the mucous has different colors and what is it’s role in the infection process.
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The main job of mucous is to provide a barrier between underlying tissue and debris, viruses, bacteria, etc. It also flows through areas using tiny hairs to push it along, where the offending debris can be dealt with later.
Many pathogens rely on direct contact with tissue and have even developed their own anti mucous adaptations to get around it.
In a nutshell, mucus traps foreign particles, including pathogens, so they don’t get further into the respiratory tract. The mucus along with trapped particles is then wafted by tiny hairlike structures on the respiratory tract surface towards the throat where it can be swallowed.
Mucus secretion increases in respiratory infections to limit the infection and prevent it from spreading further into the respiratory tract. In a way, the increased secretion also benefits the contagion. The high concentration of the pathogen trapped in the mucus means it gets a better chance of spreading when the infected person coughs or sneezes.
Colors in mucus can result from things like blood leaking from damaged capillaries (red/brown), dead white blood cells from fighting an infection (green/yellow) or smoke inhalation (black).
Your body produces more mucus to flush out the infection, which also benefits whatever infection is present since it can spread through fluids.
Pretty much the same as it always does. It is washing away the various things in your nose and sinuses. That includes the bacteria that always live there, fungus, particulate material, allergens, you name it. If it’s in your world, it’s up your nose!
You make roughly a quart of mucus a day and it’s always flowing. The reason it seems like so much more when you’re sick is that the underlying mucosa is inflamed. The mucus slows and thickens over the inflamed tissue. That thickened mucus will then over grow with bacteria and make nasty colors.
This is why washing the thick mucus away (with saline) can be so helpful. You’ll feel better by getting that yuck out of your nose.
Same role it normally plays in your colon: it’s a waste lubricant. It helps your body get rid of stuff.
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