Nasal polyps: Signs and symptoms, Causes, Types, Diagnosis, and Treatment.

 

Nasal polyps.

Nasal polyps:

There is some air space around the nasal bone in our skull. These are called paranasal sinuses. Polypus is excessive growth of mucous tissue between the nose and paranasal sinuses. It is a soft and painless non-cancerous growth. It is not usually harmful but can cause nasal congestion and breathing problems if left untreated. Elevated levels of eosinophils and serum IgE in the human blood cause colds, flu, sneezing, and a variety of nasal problems that cause allergic inflammation of the mucous membranes and a gradual increase in the size of the flesh. At first, it is small in size and looks like a bean. Later it grows in size and closes the nostrils. Sometimes there is bleeding from the nose.

Signs and symptoms of nasal polyps:

The signs and symptoms of nasal polyps are:

• Sneezing incessantly,
• Runny nose,
• Shortness of breath,
• Itchy nose,
• Nose pain,
• Headache,
• Feeling of fever,
• Loss of appetite,
• Snoring at bedtime,
• Dryness of the body,
• Sometimes the enlarged flesh of the nose comes out,
• Stuffy nose,
• Unable to smell,
• Loss of taste,
• The feeling of pain and pressure near the sinuses and upper teeth,
• Bleeding from the nose.

Causes of nasal polyps:

The main cause of mucous polyps is allergy. This causes the mucus to swell due to the accumulation of water in the nostrils of the nose and sinuses and obstruction of breathing in the nose. Many times these swollen mucous membranes are infected with bacteria or viruses. Thus the mucous tissues of the sinuses become more swollen at the touch of breath pressure for infection and nasal congestion, even if it is swollen at first due to allergies. This is called nasal polyps.

When this happens in the ethmoidal sinuses, the polyps come out through the nostrils, which can be seen by inserting a torch inside the nose. This is called ethmoidal polyps.

Polyps grow on the back of the nose when this happens in the maxillary sinuses. The posterior nasal cavity is seen hanging on the back of the mouth when the mouth is opened. Its name is antrochoanal polyps.

A person is at higher risk of developing nasal polyps he gains the following conditions:

• Cystic fibrosis.
• Asthma.
• Hay fever.
• Allergies.
• Chronic sinus infections.
• Aspirin sensitivity.
• Hereditary causes can also cause polyps.

Types of nasal polyps:

There are two types of nasal polyps:

•  Ethmoidal polyps that occur in both noses due to allergies.
• Antrochoanal polyps that are seen to be in one nose due to infection. 

Diagnosis of nasal polyps:

Polyps can be seen with the help of ordinary illuminated devices. Tests also include:

• Nasal endoscopy: A narrow tube with an illuminated magnifying lens or small camera helps the doctor to examine the inside of the nose and sinuses in detail.
• CT scan: Images obtained from CT scan help to determine the size and location of polyps in the deep region of the sinuses and to determine the extent of swelling and inflammation.
• Allergy tests: Your doctor may recommend skin tests to determine if allergies are contributing to chronic inflammation. The skin prick test spreads small drops of allergen-causing agents on the skin and then observes the allergic reaction. In addition to skin tests, blood tests are performed to test the response of various allergens to specific antibodies.
• Cystic fibrosis test: If a very young child has nasal polyps, cystic fibrosis testing is needed to determine if it is genetic.
• Blood test: The doctor may recommend having a blood test to find out the level of vitamin D. Low levels of vitamin D is associated with nasal polyps.

Treatment of nasal polyp:

In the early stages, the patient is allowed to take nasal steam, nasal drops, and allergy medications. The patient benefits a lot. In the case of primary and small size polyps, the patient gets better after spraying steroids for a long time.

However, large polyps require surgery. Physicians make decisions based on the origin, size, number, etc. of the polyp. Among the operations, polypectomy and endoscopy sinus surgery is quite popular at present. If polyps reappear for some reason or there is a risk of recurrence, you may need to take nasal steroid sprays, allergy medications, and sometimes oral steroids for a long time. If there are ear disease and sinus problems with polyps, it also needs to be treated.