Health care benefits and services from the Veterans Health Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | 810 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington DC 20420. Last updated January 23, 2017
Hello Rebecca. The yellow discharge from your nose could have been due to infection or chronic common cold. It is common knowledge that infection turns the secretions yellow. But a clear yellow discharge may not necessarily mean infection . Long standing cold can lead to thin yellow discharge.
Runny Nose or Nasal Congestion. A runny nose and/or nasal congestion (stuffy nose) are two of the most common symptoms of a cold. These symptoms result when excess fluid causes blood vessels and mucous membranes within the nose to swell. Within three days, nasal discharge tends to become thicker and yellow or green in color.