Description

Nasal polyps are painless growths on the inside of the nose or hollow areas within the bones of the face, also known as the paranasal sinuses. Nasal polyps are not cancer.

Small nasal polyps may not cause symptoms. Larger growths or groups of nasal polyps can block the nose. It can lead to breathing problems, not being able to smell and infections.

Nasal polyps can affect anyone. But they are more common in young and middle-aged adults. Medications often can reduce nasal polyps or get rid of them. But surgery may be needed to remove them. Even after treatment, nasal polyps often come back.

Symptoms

Nasal polyps are linked to irritation and swelling, also called the inflammation of the inside of the nose and sinuses that lasts more than 12 weeks. This is known as chronic sinusitis. But it is possible to have chronic sinusitis without nasal polyps.

People who have small nasal polyps may not know they have them. But to have more of a polyp or have a large polyp may block the nose.

The common symptoms of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps include:

  • Runny, stuffy nose.
  • The mucus running down the throat, also known as postnasal drip.
  • Not be able to smell it.
  • Not being able to taste.
  • Facial pain or headache.
  • Pain in the teeth.
  • A feeling of pressure over the forehead and the face.
  • Snoring.

When to see a doctor

See a health care provider for symptoms that last longer than 10 days. The symptoms of chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps are similar to those of many other diseases, including the common cold.

Seek medical attention immediately or call 911 or the local emergency number if you have:

  • The symptoms that worsen rapidly.
  • Seeing double or other changes in vision.
  • Swollen in the face.
  • Pain or swelling around the eyes.
  • A strong headache that gets worse.
  • Stiffness in the neck.

Causes

Experts do not know what causes nasal polyps. They don't know why some people have nasal polyps, and others do not.

Risk factors

Infections, allergies, or any condition that causes long-term inflammation in the nose or sinuses can increase the risk of having nasal polyps.

Conditions that are often linked to nasal polyps are:

  • Asthma.
  • Aspirin sensitivity.
  • Cystic fibrosis.
  • Dental infections.
  • The lack of vitamin D.

Having a family history of nasal polyps can also increase the risk.

Complications

One of the most common complications of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps is worsen asthma.

Prevention

The following might help reduce the chances of developing nasal polyps or nasal polyps return after treatment:

  • Control allergies and asthma. Follow your treatment plan. Make sure that the symptoms are controlled. Consult your health care provider if you are not.
  • Avoid things that can irritate the nose. These include tobacco smoke, chemical vapors, and dust. If you smoke, talk with your health care provider about ways to quit smoking.
  • Wash your hands well and often. This is one of the best ways to protect against infections that can cause irritation and inflammation of the nose and sinuses.
  • The use of a machine that adds moisture to the air, known as a humidifier. This can help prevent the nose of getting congestion and irritation. Clean the humidifier as directed to maintain the growth of bacteria.
  • The use of a rinse nasal.Rinse the inside of the nose with a saltwater spray or nasal wash can help remove what is irritating. You can buy salt-water sprays and nasal lavage kits without a prescription. Nasal wash kits come with a neti pot or squeeze the bottle and the instructions to know how to use them. The use of sterile or distilled water or boiled for a minute and cooled. The water can also be filtered using a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or less. Rinse the container or bottle after each use with distilled, sterile, previously boiled or filtered water and leave open to dry.

The use of a rinse nasal. Rinse the inside of the nose with a saltwater spray or nasal wash can help remove what is irritating.

You can buy salt-water sprays and nasal lavage kits without a prescription. Nasal wash kits come with a neti pot or squeeze the bottle and the instructions to know how to use them.

The use of sterile or distilled water or boiled for a minute and cooled. The water can also be filtered using a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or less. Rinse the container or bottle after each use with distilled, sterile, previously boiled or filtered water and leave open to dry.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of nasal polyps begins with the symptoms, medical history and a physical examination.

The tests to diagnose nasal polyps may include:

  • Nasal Endoscopy. This involves the use of a narrow tube with an illuminated lens or tiny camera to look at the inside of the nose.
  • The imaging studies. The ct scan can show the size of the polyps of depth in the sinuses and where they are. These studies may also help to rule out other reasons for the nose is blocked.
  • Allergy tests.Skin tests can show if allergies are causing ongoing inflammation. With a skin test, small drops of allergy-causing agents are pricked into the skin of the forearm or the upper part of the back. A health care provider, then the clocks of the skin, allergic reactions. If a skin test can't be done, a blood test can screen for allergies.
  • Test for cystic fibrosis.A child who has nasal polyps may have cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat and juices that help digest food. It is a hereditary condition. A test for cystic fibrosis is a sweat test. A chemical that is applied to the skin causes the area of sweat. The test shows if the sweat is more salty than the majority of people sweat.
  • Blood tests. These can seek a condition linked to nasal polyps, such as allergies or problems with the immune system.

Allergy tests. Skin tests can show if allergies are causing ongoing inflammation. With a skin test, small drops of allergy-causing agents are pricked into the skin of the forearm or the upper part of the back. A health care provider, then the clocks of the skin, allergic reactions.

If a skin test can't be done, a blood test can screen for allergies.

Test for cystic fibrosis. A child who has nasal polyps may have cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis affects the cells that produce mucus, sweat and juices that help digest food. It is a hereditary condition.

A test for cystic fibrosis is a sweat test. A chemical that is applied to the skin causes the area of sweat. The test shows if the sweat is more salty than the majority of people sweat.

Treatment

Chronic sinusitis with or without polyps, it is difficult to clarify. The treatment depends on the cause of the swelling and irritation. The goal is to reduce the symptoms and improve the life.

Medications

Treatments may include:

  • Nasal steroids. These nasal sprays include fluticasone (Flonase Allergy Relief, Xhance), budesonide (Rhinocort), mometasone (Nasonex 24-hour Allergy), triamcinolone (Nasacort Allergy 24 HOURS), beclomethasone (Beconase AQ, Qnasl), and ciclesonide (Omnaris, Zetonna).
  • Steroids taken by mouth.Some nasal polyps can block the nasal sprays. If so, take steroids in pill form, such as prednisone, can help. Steroids taken by mouth can also be taken to reduce the polyps before the surgery. The pills can be taken alone or with a nasal spray. Due to oral steroids can cause serious side effects, healthcare providers usually prescribe them only for a short time. The steroids given as vaccines, may be used if the nasal polyps are serious.
  • The biological drugs. Regeneration of work with the aim that in certain cells or proteins to reduce the irritation and swelling. These can be used by people whose nasal polyps to keep coming back. In the united States, dupilumab (Dupixent), mepolizumab (Nucala) and omalizumab (Xolair) have been approved for the treatment of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps.
  • Other medications.Other prescription drugs can treat conditions that lead to long-term swelling and inflammation in the nose. These may include medications to treat allergies, also known as antihistamines, and antibiotics to treat the infection. A treatment known as desensitization to aspirin could help people with nasal polyps and asthma that react badly to the aspirin. An allergy specialist oversees the treatment. The treatment consists of taking a little more than aspirin to little to help the body get used to taking aspirin. The surgery to remove the polyps could come before the desensitization to aspirin. Desensitization can be followed by daily aspirin therapy.

Steroids taken by mouth. Some nasal polyps can block the nasal sprays. If so, take steroids in pill form, such as prednisone, can help. Steroids taken by mouth can also be taken to reduce the polyps before the surgery.

The pills can be taken alone or with a nasal spray. Due to oral steroids can cause serious side effects, healthcare providers usually prescribe them only for a short time.

The steroids given as vaccines, may be used if the nasal polyps are serious.

Other medications. Other prescription drugs can treat conditions that lead to long-term swelling and inflammation in the nose. These may include medications to treat allergies, also known as antihistamines, and antibiotics to treat the infection.

A treatment known as desensitization to aspirin could help people with nasal polyps and asthma that react badly to the aspirin. An allergy specialist oversees the treatment. The treatment consists of taking a little more than aspirin to little to help the body get used to taking aspirin.

The surgery to remove the polyps could come before the desensitization to aspirin. Desensitization can be followed by daily aspirin therapy.

Surgery

If the medication does not reduce or get rid of nasal polyps, endoscopic sinus surgery can remove polyps and to correct the problems with the sinuses which lead to polyps.

In endoscopic surgery, a surgeon places a small tube with an illuminated lens or small camera, also known as an endoscope, through the nostrils in the sinuses. A surgeon then uses small tools to remove the polyps.

A surgeon can also make the openings larger breasts. This can be done during endoscopic surgery. Or is there a procedure called balloon ostial dilation. This procedure does not involve removal of tissue from the inside of the nose.

After the surgery, a corticosteroid nasal spray could help keep nasal polyps from coming back. A rinse of salt water can promote healing after surgery.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary care provider. You may then be referred to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or a specialist in allergies.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Ask a family member or friend to go with you, if possible. To have someone that can help you remember the information that is obtained during the appointment.

Make a list of:

  • Their symptoms, even if it seems not to be related to the nose or sinuses, and when they began.
  • Other medical information, including other conditions.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, including dosage.
  • Questions to ask your health care provider.

Some basic questions to ask might include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What treatment do you suggest?
  • I need to see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed information that I can take I have? What sites do you recommend?

Ask other questions you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you questions such as:

  • When was the last time you have a cold or sinus infection?
  • How often have colds or infections of the sinuses?
  • Do you have allergies? For what?
  • Do you have asthma? How controlled is it?
  • Do you usually take aspirin or other medications for pain?
  • Do you smoke or are often around tobacco smoke?
  • What kind of work do you do?
  • What are your hobbies?
  • Have you ever had any sinus or nasal surgery?
Symptoms and treatment of Nasal polyps