'No, green snot doesn’t mean you need antibiotics!'

CC: every daycare worker, school teacher, and grandparent who insists our kids 'need' them.

No green snot doesn't mean you have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics. Image: iStock

Winter is here, which means cold and flu season is officially upon us. And with that comes the age-old debate about whether or not green snot oozing out of your child's nose signifies a serious bacterial infection. 

To answer the question many parents ask around this time each year, Melbourne-based GP and mum of two, Dr Preeya Alexander, has taken to Instagram to share a rather simple explainer. 

It's time for parents, grandparents and educators to listen up!

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No, green snot doesn’t mean you need antibiotics

Speaking from her clinic, Dr Preeya admits she - and many other GPs - often gets this question as soon as winter hits.

"PSA: this one is for all my health professional mates in the trenches answering the 'don’t I need antibiotics because the mucous is green?' question right now. It’s about way more than mucous colour friends," she captioned her video.  

She then begins her explanation.

"Does the colour of your mucous determine whether or not you need antibiotics?" she asks.

"Quick answer, no."

The medical professional then goes on to explain exactly why our mucous turns green when we come down with a cold and despite what many believe, it has nothing to do with the severity of the infection. 

"Mucous is there in your nasal passage and it does lots of things. It’s part of your immune defence, it protects the skin, it traps bugs, it’s really actually quite good," Dr Preeya explains. 

"If you have a viral infection like the common cold, all your immune, your fighter cells, they’re doing their thing to protect you and that can make the mucous go green.

"Those cells start slothing off. Also, those fighter cells help you produce enzymes, which contain iron which can make the mucous turn green."

In short, the green colour of your snot does not mean it's time to consider antibiotics. See it as a bit of reassurance that your body is doing all it can to fight off the nasties and a natural progression of a viral illness.

The hidden concerns of un-needed antibiotics

With the explainer about snot colour over and done with, Dr Preeya then moves on to the very important reason parents should be avoiding giving their child antibiotics as much as they can. 

"Let’s remember, antibiotics are there to treat bacterial infections and you really want to have a good reason to use them," she insists, before listing the reasons why taking them when not needed can be harmful. 

"Antibiotics can have side effects, they can lead to antibiotics resistance, which is a huge issue in the community and we’re now learning more about the impact antibiotics can have on the gut microbiome and that puppy is important for lots of things," she adds. 

"So if you’re going to take antibiotics, you want it to really have the benefits outweighing the risks."

To determine if it's a bacterial or viral infection you or a family member is fighting, there are certain signs doctors look out for in a patient. 

Dr Preeya says she examines a person with the following questions first: 

• How are you feeling?
• What’s your appetite like?
• Are you drinking enough fluid?
• Have you got persistent fevers?

Then comes the examination of the body - including tenderness around sinuses, ears, and if there are any noises being made in the chest.

"That’s the stuff that helps us determine if it’s a bacterial infection and you need antibiotics - it’s not related to mucous colour," she concluded. 

So next time someone insists that your child needs antibiotics for a green, snotty nose, hit them with the facts. But also make sure you've had them seen by a medical practitioner just to be sure. 

Originally published as 'No, green snot doesn’t mean you need antibiotics!'