Pathological Discharge

Pathological discharge is the appearance of a modified discharge from various organs and body cavities, indicating the course of pathological processes. For infectious and inflammatory pathologies, abundant mucous or purulent discharge is characteristic, for tumor – bloody. Pathological whites are accompanied by gynecological diseases, secretions from the urethra – venereal diseases, secretion from the nipples – diseases of the mammary glands. The presence of pathology is also indicated by uncharacteristic and abundant discharge from the ear, eye, gingival pockets, the appearance of sputum, runny nose and other symptoms. Diagnostics is carried out by laboratory and instrumental verification methods. Treatment correlates with a confirmed diagnosis.

The appearance of pathological secretions is a very alarming sign. A change in the nature of the secret (its consistency, smell, color, quantity) indicates hidden or actively occurring diseases in the body. An experienced clinician, even by one type of discharge, can assume a certain pathology, however, additional laboratory and instrumental examination is required to more accurately determine the causes of the disease. Depending on the localization , the following types of pathological secretions are distinguished:

1. Vaginal discharge. Normally, the vaginal secretions are mucous, transparent, secreted in a small volume, not accompanied by itching and irritation of the mucous membrane. With various pathologies, the secret is modified: it can become watery, grayish, curd, yellowish-greenish, the color of “meat slops”; acquire an unpleasant odor (sour, “fishy”, putrid), become abundant, pasty, etc.
2. Discharge from the urethra. They are usually found in men suffering from STIs, diseases of the prostate gland and other organs of the genitourinary system. Such secretions are more often represented by serous or purulent secretions, prostatorrhea, spermatorrhea.
3. Discharge from the nipples. They can have both a physiological origin (lactation) and a pathological genesis. A woman should be alerted by the appearance of a colostrum-like secret outside of pregnancy and breast-feeding – this may indicate endocrine disorders. The presence of greenish discharge from the nipples usually indicates ductoectasia or mastopathy, purulent – mastitis or breast abscess, bloody – tumor process (intra-flow papilloma, breast cancer).
4. Discharge from the respiratory tract. Runny nose, sputum are the main signs of trouble from the respiratory tract. Pathological discharge from the nose and bronchi appear in most infectious, allergic, and tumor diseases.
5. Discharge from the ear. Purulent otorrhea may indicate otitis media, mastoiditis, epithympanitis; hemorrhagic discharge – the presence of ear injuries, polyps and other tumors. The fracture of the base of the skull is characterized by the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the ears. With otomycosis, the discharge is white-gray with black inclusions.

In addition to the considered localizations, the pathological secret can be secreted from the eyes, gums, wounds and fistulas. The nature of the discharge can be different: mucous, serous, purulent, bloody. Damage to the skin and mucous membranes is usually accompanied by minor bleeding, which is easily stopped. However, with some nosologies (hemophilia, leukemia), causeless bleeding occurs, which is regarded as pathological. Dangerous symptoms are also intermenstrual, menopausal bleeding from the genital tract.

Pathological discharge from various organs is usually accompanied by local symptoms (itching, maceration, pain, pain when urinating) and general disorders (nervousness, insomnia, anemia, carcinophobia). In order to avoid the development of purulent-septic complications, posthemorrhagic anemia and a neglected oncological process, when a modified or abundant secretion appears, it is necessary to visit a specialist doctor.