Inflammations of nasal linings and sinusitis which had continued for a period more than 12 weeks are considered to be the causes for nasal polyps also known as ethmoidal polyps. As nasal polyps are soft and without sensation, existence of this polyps are not felt by many persons who have them. Increased number of polyps or a large polyp may block the nasal passage and this will let you know the existence of a polyp in your nose. Reasons for the formation of nasal polyps are not clearly understood by the scientists. But there are some evidences to prove that the people who develop nasal polyps have a different immune system response in their mucous membrane compared to others who do not develop it. Nasal polyps are commonly found in middle aged people, though it can form at any age.
Symptoms
Absence of sense of smell, runny nose, loss of sense of taste, headache, facial pain, itching around your eyes and snoring are common symptoms of nasal polyps. Runny nose sneezing and catarrh are the other symptoms.
Treatment
No specific treatment options are available for nasal polyps. The surgeon will use an endoscope, which is an instrument to see the internal parts, to find out nasal infection or any other unusual features that are present. Nasal sprays or drops containing steroids have been found to be very effective in shrinking of the nasal polyps. Stronger steroids are used with extra care as a portion of the steroid is absorbed into the body. This treatment option has been found to be successful in about 80 % of the patients. It has been found that by proper and careful use of nasal steroids symptoms of nasal polyps can be controlled for many years. It may take at least six weeks for the steroid treatment to take its full effect and give relief to the patient. Steroids in tablet are also available now. But they are sparingly uses as there is concern about its side effects.
Surgical Procedure
If the above mentioned treatment options fail to produce satisfactory results then only option for surgical removal of polyps is taken up. If the polyps are found to be arising from the turbinates and are not creating any other serious symptoms then removal of polyps followed by steroids is often found to be very curative. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is the procedure used in the surgical treatment of nasal polyps and sinusitis. Endoscope is an instrument with a powerful camera with lighting source is attached to one end of a long flexible tube. The videos taken by this camera can be viewed in the monitor placed before the surgeon. The endoscope is inserted through the nostrils and carefully guided tills it reaches the area of the polyps. With the help of this instrument specimen for cultures and biopsies are taken. All the four sinuses can be accessed and the polyps found on them or in the nasal cavity can be easily removed with the help of the endoscope. Post operative therapy can be will be planned based on the findings of the biopsy and cultures.