Have you ever noticed a painless and soft growth on the nasal passage? Well, this could be nasal polyps. If your nasal congestion doesn’t go away even after taking allergy or cold medication, then it could be because of a benign case of nasal polyps. Let us take a look at the common causes of nasal polyps and common treatments to help you understand this condition better.
Causes
A nasal polyp is seen mostly in the nasal mucosa’s inflamed tissue. The mucosa is a layer inside the nose, which is extremely wet and keeps the insides protected by humidifying the air that you inhale. If there’s an infection or an allergy, there might be redness or swelling in the nasal mucosa. This might lead to the production of a dripping fluid that might form a polyp that results due to persistent irritation. This round growth can block your nasal passages.
Some common triggers or causes of nasal polyps include:
- sinus infection, which is mostly recurring or chronic
- cystic fibrosis
- asthma
- hay fever
- Churg-Strauss
- sensitivity to aspirin, ibuprofen, or other NSAIDs
Some people might have a hereditary tendency to develop nasal polyps. It could be because of the mucosa’s reaction to inflammation.
Treatments
Let’s understand the common treatment measures for nasal polyps. It includes:
- Medications
For the treatment of nasal polyps, medications that can cause a reduction in the inflammation, and consequent reduction in the size of the polyp, are prescribed. Such medications also help in relieving you from congestion.You can use nasal steroids and spray them into the nose to get rid of a runny nose. It will also help in alleviating you from the blockage in the passage by the possibly shrinking the polyp. Please know that if you do not take your medication regularly, the symptoms might relapse.
Some nasal steroids are:
- Mometasone
- Budesonide
- fluticasone
If nasal sprays aren’t effective, an injectable or oral medication like prednisone can be used. This isn’t a very good long-term solution and has some side-effects, such as high BP, fluid retention, or excessive pressure on eyes.
Antibiotics or antihistamines can also be used to treat sinus infections or allergies that might occur because of nasal inflammation.
- Surgery
If medication does not work, you can opt for surgery to remove nasal polyps. Depending upon the polyp size, the type of surgery is decided. Polypectomy is performed using a small device like a microdebrider for suction when the polyp size is small, and only the soft tissues including mucosa are cut and removed. On the other hand, endoscopic sinus is performed if the polyp is larger. In this, the doctor will use a flexible and thin endoscope that would have a small camera and certain tools attached to it. This endoscope will be put into the nostrils to look for the obstruction or the polyps, which is then removed.
So, these are the causes of nasal polyps and common treatments that you can consider to help spot the condition quickly and help ease it.