Nasal Polyps

Nasal Polyps General Information

Having polyps is not considered really a disease. They are result of an inflammation caused by a bacterium or by a virus that allows the water found in the blood vessels to accumulate in the cells. With time, the gravity pulls on these tissues filled with water, relating to the developing of the polyps. Nasal Polyps are found in the mucous membranes of the paranasal and nose sinuses and represents polypoidal benign (noncancerous) growths of the mucosa. The antrochoanal polyps (unilateral and single) form from the sinuses of the maxillary being not very common in comparison with the ethmoidal polyps (bilateral and multiple) that are formed in the ethmoidal sinuses. Many people who present difficulty in breathing, a nose that drips continually a minimized sense of smell may confuse Nasal Polyps with an allergy or a chronic sinusitis. The problems are not the same, depending on the size of the polyps, because the small ones do not cause important issues, the larger ones can lead to major difficulties, causing snoring, and headache and in more severe situations, deform the face. The inflammation of the mucosa is not very clear in most cases, but it affects more often people over 40 years old and those children and adults with cystic fibrosis, asthma, hay fever and infections of the sinuses that are chronic. All methods of treatment, either surgery or medications, are effective only for a period, because after a while usually the polyps return.

Nasal Polyps Symptoms

Usually, this disease is caused by allergic rhinitis, cystic fibrosis or asthma. The symptoms of the Nasal Polyps are always the same, leading to other diseases, not very dangerous but require an immediate medical attention; if not, the disease could aggravate and lead to adverse effects that are a real discomfort and to other affections. The polyps, either single or ion groups have a pearly color, are like jelly and very soft. Generally, the problems are not provoked by the small multiple or single ones. The problems in breathing are made by the larger polyps that extend to open areas and obstruct the nose’s airways. This is why many people who suffer of Nasal Polyps breathe through the mouth, particularly children. The chronic nasal obstruction is accompanied by a runny nose, snoring and dull headaches. The voice sounds as if the person is congested and has persistent stuffiness and a diminishment or even a loss of the sense of smell because of the medications, especially corticosteroids nasal sprays or oral steroids. The symptoms of the Nasal Polyps are often mistakenly taken as signs of a common cold. So, if all the symptoms specified above persist longer than two weeks you are strongly advised to see immediately a doctor for a proper therapy. The polyps may appear from childhood and last many years, but not always cause problems.

Nasal Polyps Treatment

To diagnose this disease that affects the sinuses, the doctor needs to know some things about the medical history of the patient and then he or she will check the nasal passages. To more precisely diagnose this, a CT scan is recommended (a computerize tomography) that will show the exact location (it is important to know if the patient has polyps in the sinuses) and the size of the polyps. Corticosteroid nasal sprays are often prescribed either alone or combined with oral corticosteroids, for those patients who present more than one small polyps because they sometimes shrink the polyps, relieve inflammation and the nasal airflow is increased. Some examples of these kinds of medications are: Nasarel (flunisolide), Nasacort (triamcinolone), Nasonex (mometasone), Flonase (fluticasone) or Rhinocort (budesonide). The adverse effects of these sprays are sore throat, nosebleeds and headache but are not that serious than the side effects of oral steroids (usually prescribed just for a couple of weeks). When a small child is diagnosed with multiple Nasal Polyps, the specialist will demand testing for an infection of the glands producing digestive juices, tears, saliva, sweat and mucus that is inherited, called cystic fibrosis. Other medications for Nasal Polyps are controlling infections and allergies. For examples, antihistamines, although they do not eliminate the polyps, they relieve the congestion in cases of hay fever. For an acute sinusitis are prescribed antibiotics and antifungal drugs because it was discovered that environmental fungus may cause an unusual response from the immune system in cases of chronic sinusitis.

A very popular treatment for Nasal Polyps, when the medications have no effects (especially for the cases of cystic fibrosis), is the surgery. If the organism does not respond to corticosteroids, it is necessarily to determine the number, the location and the size of the polyps to proceed with the surgery. There are two types of surgery, endoscopic sinus surgery and polypectomy (performed on an outpatient basis). The first type does not only remove the polyps, it also opens parts of the cavity where the sinuses are located and form. It heals quickly, in some weeks, because the incisions are small and do not cause too much discomfort. The main disadvantage of this surgery is that the polyps return. Polypectomy removes completely the polyps if they are isolated and small. The surgeon uses an instrument with which cuts and extracts the tissue, called a microdebrider or another mechanical suction device. This type of surgery is followed by a treatment with antibiotics and corticosteroid nasal sprays or oral steroids. But this surgery too has the disadvantage of the returning polyps. In the cases when the sinuses are more inflamed and blocked than in the common Nasal Polyps, the doctor will make a bigger incision in the sinus cavity with a rigid and thin tube, along with an endoscope (a small video camera). This method is applied in the both types of surgeries.

21 Nasal Polyps Medication Reviews

1 Nasal Polyps Group

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