Section: Causes
The type of discharge produced will usually vary with the cause. Serous discharges (clear, thin fluid) may be caused by environmental irritants, allergies or early stages of infectious diseases. Purulent (thick, yellowish) discharges or caseous (thick, dry) discharges usually are seen with infectious diseases. With severe disease such a fungal infectious or neoplasia (cancer) the discharge may become blood tinged. These types of destructive processes will often cause erosion or deformation of the nasal cavity.
Possible causes of sneezing and nasal discharge include:
Bacterial infections
Chlamydiosis – also known as Psittacosis or parrot fever
Aspergillosis- a fungus normally found in the environment which can cause severe, life threatening disease in pet birds
Candidiasis – a yeast infection
Viral infections
Hypovitaminosis A – low vitamin A concentration in the diet. Irritation due to low humidity
Build up of aerosolized dust and debris
Airborne irritants – such as smoke or aerosol sprays
Nasal tumors - cancer
Foreign bodies- objects such as seeds or food lodged in the nasal cavity
Allergies
Choanal atresia – a birth defect that prevents the nasal cavity from opening into the roof of the mouth
