Nasal Polyps Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

What Are Nasal Polyps?

Nasal polyps are polypoidal masses arising mainly from the mucous membranes of the nose and paranasal sinuses.

They are overgrowths of the mucosa that frequently accompany allergic rhinitis, and are freely movable and nontender.

Types Of Nasal Polyps:

There are two major types of nasal polyps.

Antrochoanal
- Single, Unilateral
- Can originate from maxillary sinus
- Usually found in children
Ethmoidal
- Bilateral
- Usually found in adults

Cause Of Nasal Polyps:

Scientists are yet to find a definite cause for development of nasal polyps. Currently, it is a dilemma as to why some people develop it while others don’t.

However, there are a number of conditions associated with nasal polyps.

They include:

Asthma,
Aspirin sensitivity
Allergic fungal sinusitis
Cystic fibrosis
Churg Strauss syndrome

Symptoms Of Nasal Polyps:

The following symptoms are common in those who develop nasal polyps:

A runny nose
Persistent stuffiness
Postnasal drip
Decreased or absent sense of smell
Loss of sense of taste
Facial pain or headache
Pain in your upper teeth
A sense of pressure over your forehead and face
Snoring
Itching around your eyes

Diagnosis Of Nasal Polyps:

Diagnosis can be made on the basis of answering questions about one’s symptoms.

Other than this, the following tests also confirm diagnoses of nasal polyps:

Nasal endoscopy
Imaging studies.

CT scan
MRI

Allergy tests
Test for cystic fibrosis

Treatment Of Nasal Polyps:

Treatment for nasal polyps can be divided into two categories.

Medications

Nasal corticosteroids.
- fluticasone (Flonase, Veramyst),
- budesonide (Rhinocort),
- flunisolide,
- mometasone (Nasonex),
- triamcinolone (Nasacort AQ)
- beclomethasone (Qnasl, Beconase AQ)
- Ciclesonide (Omnaris, Zetonna).
Oral and injectable corticosteroids
Other medications.
- antihistamines
- antibiotics
- Aspirin desensitization