Polyps in the nose – symptoms, treatment, removal. Home remedies for polyps in the nose

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Nasal polyps are a condition characterized by soft lumps that appear in the nose as a result of inflammation or allergies. Polyps are not dangerous, but they cause problems with the patency of the nose, smell, rhinitis and pain when getting rid of secretions. The highest percentage of ailments occurs, inter alia, in immunocompromised patients. Nasal polyps are treated pharmacologically, with inhalations and rinses.

What are nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are soft lumps that appear in the nose due to inflammatory or allergic changes. They cover the nasal passages to the lumen of the nasal cavity and can form as single lesions or multiple lesions. The ailment most often occurs in adults between 50 and 60 years of age, usually in men (the disease hardly occurs in children). Although nasal polyps are not a serious disease, they cause nasal obstruction, smell, and pain associated with the removal of secretions. Polyps can be found in a few percent of the population (it is estimated to be about 5%) on the basis of an ENT examination, more specifically an anterior rhinoscopy.

The highest risk of developing the disease occurs in people:

1. showing intolerance to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,
2. suffering from bronchial asthma,
3. who have AD (atopic dermatitis),
4. with significantly reduced immunity,
5. suffering from cystic fibrosis,
6. who have allergic or non-allergic rhinitis.

See also: Gastrointestinal polyps

Polyps in the nose – risk factors

Any condition that causes long-term irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the nasal passages or sinuses, such as infections or allergies, can increase the risk of developing nasal polyps.

Conditions commonly associated with nasal polyps include:

1. asthma, a disease causing swelling (inflammation) and narrowing of the airways;
2. sensitivity to aspirin;
3. allergic fungal sinusitis, allergy to airborne fungi;
4. cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that causes abnormally thick, sticky fluids in the body including thick mucus from the lining of the nose and sinuses;
5. Churg-Strauss syndrome (eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis), a rare disease that causes inflammation of blood vessels;
6. Vitamin D deficiency, which occurs when the body does not get enough vitamin D.

Family history can also play a role. There is evidence that certain genetic changes related to the functioning of the immune system increase the likelihood of developing nasal polyps.

See also: Seven signs your body needs vitamin D.

Causes of nasal polyps

So far, the exact causes of nasal polyps have not been fully established, but there are some factors that increase their risk. These factors include:

1. chronic inflammatory processes of the nasal mucosa and sinuses;
2. genetic predisposition;
3. disorders of the function and structure of epithelial cells;
4. allergy;
5. fixed cilia syndrome – occurs when mucus remains in the sinuses and becomes superinfected, leading to inflammation. This chronic inflammation leads to the formation of polyps.

Moreover, nasal polyps may occur in the course of bronchial asthma, cystic fibrosis, or in patients with severe immunosuppression.

Nasal polyps can form anywhere in the sinuses or nasal passages, but most often appear in the area where the sinuses near the eyes, nose, and cheekbones run down the winding nasal passages.

Other conditions may mimic the appearance of nasal polyps and should be considered if a tumor is visible on examination. Examples include cerebral hernia, glioblastoma, inverted papilloma, and cancer. In the case of unilateral nasal polyps, an early biopsy is recommended to rule out more serious conditions such as cancer, inverted papilloma, or fungal sinusitis.

Also check: How to choose the right inhaler? Characteristics, types, advantages and disadvantages of inhalation

Polyps in the nose – types

Nasal polyps can be divided into three types:

1. glandular nasal polyps – characterized by swollen connective tissue containing large cysts and glands;
2. edema-type nasal polyps – consists of non-swollen connective tissue lined with unchanged mucosa;
3. mixed-type nasal polyps.

In addition to the above-mentioned nasal polyps, there is one more – the choanal polyp. It is closely related to the inflammatory process in the maxillary sinus. This polyp grows out of the maxillary sinus and curves into the nasal cavity. It can even touch the throat.

Polyps in the nose – symptoms

The symptom of nasal polyps is:

1. stuffy nose
2. olfactory impairment,
3. sneezing,
4. nasal speech,
5. mouth breathing
6. pain in the inside of the nose,
7. runny or purulent nasal discharge
8. night apnea,
9. snoring while sleeping,
10. a slightly wider nose than normal,
11. fluid running down the throat.

Polyps may accompany bronchial asthma and chronic rhinitis and sinusitis. The presence of nodules can be diagnosed after imaging and ENT examination. You can make an appointment with an otolaryngologist quickly in private POLMED facilities. The otolaryngologist will take a medical history and conduct the necessary tests.

At the beginning of the development of nasal polyps, their surface is lined with the respiratory epithelium, containing a large number of cells that secrete mucus. As ailments develop, this epithelium is transformed into a flat epithelium due to irritation with atmospheric air. At the end of development, in the submucosa, large spaces are formed between cells with serous fluid.

Nasal polyps vary in size and small polyps may not cause any symptoms. Larger polyps, in turn, can cause symptoms and block the nasal passages. If polyps block your nasal passages, you may develop a sinus infection.

A person with severe nasal polyps can actually see polyps in their nostrils. They have a shiny, translucent gray color, resembling lumps of transparent gelatin.

Long-term nasal polyps can lead to a widening of the bridge of the nose, which may make the patient’s eyes appear further apart.

See also: Septoplasty – what is it?

Polyps in the nose – complications

Nasal polyps can cause complications because they block the normal flow of air and fluid drainage, and because of prolonged irritation and swelling (inflammation) underlying their development.

Potential complications include:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea. This is a potentially serious condition in which you often stop breathing and start breathing while you sleep.
2. Asthma exacerbations. Chronic sinusitis can make your asthma worse.
3. Sinus infections. Nasal polyps can make you more prone to frequently recurring sinus infections.

Also check: Asthma and the new coronavirus

Nasal polyps – diagnosis

The diagnosis of nasal polyps is made by an ENT specialist. During the visit, he performs anterior rhinoscopy with the help of the Hartman speculum, thanks to which it is possible to obtain a better view of the nasal cavity from the front. Thanks to this examination, the doctor can see smooth-walled, shiny and pedunculated or non-pedunculated structures that may be white-yellow in color or be transparent and covered with purulent discharge.

These structures move when they are touched and are usually located in:

1. posterior nostrils (choanal polyps),
2. paranasal sinuses,
3. medial nasal conduction.

Moreover, it can be performed fiberoskopiawhich consists in inserting a flexible and small endoscope with a camera into the nose (under local anesthesia), which allows you to magnify the nasopharyngeal cavity. In addition, imaging tests, e.g. computed tomography, are very useful in diagnostics.

If you want to distinguish between different types of polyps, you need to take into account the following conditions and ailments:

1. pituitary gland adenoma,
2. neoplastic tumors (malignant and benign),
3. bleeding polyps of the nasal septum,
4. meningeal hernia (bulging).

A doctor can usually make a diagnosis based on the patient’s answers to questions about symptoms, a general physical exam, and an examination of the nose.

Other diagnostic tests include:

1. Imaging studies. Computed tomography (CT) scans can help your doctor determine the size and location of polyps in the deeper areas of the sinuses, and assess the degree of swelling and irritation (inflammation). These tests can also help your doctor rule out other possible blockages in the nasal cavity, such as structural abnormalities or any other type of cancerous or non-cancerous growth.
2. Allergy tests. Your doctor may recommend skin tests to determine if allergies are contributing to chronic inflammation. In a skin prick test, tiny drops of allergenic agents (allergens) are inserted into the skin of the forearm or upper back. The doctor or nurse then checks your skin for signs of allergic reactions. If a skin test cannot be performed, your doctor may order a blood test that tests specific antibodies against different allergens.
3. Examination for cystic fibrosis. For a child diagnosed with nasal polyps, your doctor may suggest testing for cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease of the glands that produce mucus, tears, sweat, saliva and digestive juices. The standard diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis is a non-invasive sweat test, which determines if a baby’s sweat is saltier than most people’s sweat.
4. Blood test. Your doctor may test your blood for low vitamin D levels that are associated with nasal polyps.

Polyps in the nose – treatment

The goal of treating nasal polyps is to reduce or eliminate them. Drugs are usually the first approach. Sometimes surgery may be needed, but this is not always a permanent solution as polyps tend to recur.

Treatment of nasal polyps can include medications, rinses and infusions, but it can also result in surgical removal of the polyps (polypectomy). The excised material should be subjected to histopathological examination in order to exclude the neoplastic nature of the lesions.

As for drugs, drug treatment may include:

1. Nasal corticosteroids. Your doctor will likely recommend a nasal spray containing corticosteroids to reduce swelling and irritation. This treatment can reduce polyps or eliminate them altogether. Intranasal corticosteroids may include fluticasone, budesonide, triamcinolone, and beclomethasone.
2. Oral and injectable corticosteroids. If nasal corticosteroids are not effective, your doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid such as prednisone, alone or in combination with a nasal spray. Since oral corticosteroids can cause serious side effects, they are usually only taken for a limited time. For severe nasal polyps, injectable corticosteroids may be used.
3. Drugs for the treatment of nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis. If you have polyps in your nose and chronic sinusitis, your doctor may give you an injection of a medicine called dupilumab (Dupixent) to treat your condition. This drug can reduce the size of nasal polyps and reduce congestion.
4. Other drugs. Your doctor may prescribe medications to treat conditions that contribute to long-term swelling in the sinuses or nasal passages. These can include antihistamines to treat allergies and antibiotics to treat chronic or recurrent infections. Desensitization to aspirin under the care of an allergist experienced in desensitization may benefit some patients with nasal polyps and aspirin sensitivity. Treatment involves gradually increasing the amount of aspirin you take under the supervision of a doctor in a hospital or clinic to help your body tolerate taking aspirin over a long period of time.

Since polyps are typically a manifestation of another respiratory disease, treatment of the underlying disease is important to prevent recurrence after polypectomy.

Problems or doubts that arise during the treatment of nasal polyps should be consulted on an ongoing basis with a specialist. Deadline for online consultation of contracts via the halodoctor.pl portal.

Removal of polyps in the nose

Surgery is performed when pharmacological treatment does not bring the expected benefits and when there are frequent recurring polyps and nasal obstruction. Then, the above-mentioned polypectomy or endoscopic procedure is performed, which not only helps to remove the polyps, but also improves the obstruction of the nose and sinuses. A polypectomy is an outpatient procedure performed with a small device that removes soft tissue, including the mucosa.

For larger polyps, your doctor may perform endoscopic sinus surgery using a thin, flexible endoscope with a small camera and small instruments at the end. A specialist will insert an endoscope into the nostrils, find polyps or other obstructions, and remove them. The doctor may also enlarge the patient’s sinus openings. This type of surgery is an outpatient procedure most of the time.

Overall, reducing inflammation in the nasal passages with nasal sprays, antiallergic medications, and saline irrigation can help prevent nasal polyps from developing.

See also: When is sinus surgery a must? Indications, course, price of the procedure

Nasal polyps – after surgery

After surgery on the polyp in the nose, the patient may experience mild pain and nose bleeding. These symptoms should go away within a week, but the patient may see some blood as he blows his nose for up to a month.

Having recovered from the operation of nasal polyps, the patient can quickly notice:

1. reduced nasal discharge;
2. restoration of the sense of smell;
3. reduction of nasal and sinus congestion;
4. no more sinus pressure or infections.

Even so, despite surgical removal, the polyps in the nose are likely to come back. It is not known exactly when, but studies suggest a relapse can be expected within a decade. However, symptoms often remain alleviated.

If you develop new symptoms of nasal polyps, discuss your next steps with your doctor. This may include repeat surgery or medications, depending on the size of the polyps. Intranasal corticosteroids and lavage with saline are still recommended for a long time to prevent the recurrence of polyps, even after surgery.

Polyps in the nose – home remedies

If the symptoms of a polyp in your nose appear to be related to an allergic reaction, it likely helps to avoid the allergen causing the reaction. In case of symptoms of congestion, you can relieve them by using the steam bath.

Occasionally, tea tree oil and other remedies may be proposed to be used, but there seems to be little evidence of their effectiveness. The same is true of vitamin D, which can help relieve symptoms, but only in a high therapeutic dose. How it works, how it should be delivered, and how effective it can be has not been confirmed.

Also check: Can you get infected with the coronavirus in the sauna?

Polipy nose – profilaktyka

You can reduce the risk of developing a nasal polyp or the recurrence of nasal polyps after treatment by following these tips:

1. Dealing with allergies and asthma. Follow the instructions of your doctor. If symptoms are not well controlled, it is recommended that you consult your physician to change your treatment plan.
2. Avoiding irritation of the nose. Whenever possible, avoid inhalation of airborne substances that may contribute to the swelling or irritation of the nose and sinuses, such as allergens, tobacco smoke, chemical fumes, dust and small pollutants.
3. Proper hygiene. You should wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself from bacterial and viral infections that can cause inflammation in your nasal passages and sinuses.
4. Hydration. Using an air humidifier can help moisten the airways, improve the flow of mucus from the sinuses, and help prevent blockages and inflammation. Remember to clean your humidifier daily to prevent the growth of bacteria.
5. Use nasal rinsing. Use a salt water spray (saline) or nasal rinse to rinse your nasal passages. This can improve mucus flow and remove allergens and other irritants. You can purchase over-the-counter saline sprays or nasal rinse kits with devices such as a nasal rinse. For the preparation of the irrigation solution, sterile distilled water should be used, boiled in advance for one minute and cooled, or filtered through a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or less. Rinse the irrigation device with distilled, sterile, pre-boiled or filtered water after each use and leave it open to dry.

See also: Washing your hands can protect against viruses. How to do it effectively?