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Nasal polyps are noncancerous growths in the nasal passages with unknown causes, but may be linked to sinus infections or allergic rhinitis. Symptoms include blocked airways, snoring, and decreased sense of smell. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory drugs and surgery in rare cases. Self-treatment is not recommended.
Nasal polyps are noncancerous growths that form spontaneously in the nasal passages for largely unknown reasons. There may be a connection between polyp formation and allergic rhinitis, but a runny nose alone doesn’t always trigger them. Some medical experts suggest a link between sinus infections and an increased likelihood of polyps forming, but others suggest that most form idiopathically, meaning there is no definitive cause.
Symptoms of nasal polyps include blocked nasal airways, sudden onset of snoring, a decreased sense of smell or taste, and discolored nasal mucus. The polyps themselves can appear as enlarged sacs of mucus with a gel-like consistency. Unlike benign or malignant polyps that can form in other areas of the body, nasal polyps aren’t usually attached to the skin and aren’t typically seen as evidence of a more serious medical condition.
There are several courses of treatment for nasal polyps, most of which involve the application of anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids. Steroid-containing nasal sprays generally shrink the polyps themselves while antibiotics can address any secondary infections. Significant amounts of discolored nasal mucus are often a sign of an infection that resides out of sight in the upper nasal passages. A doctor may use a special instrument to examine the nasal passages for the development of polyps.
On rare occasions, nasal polyps can become problematic enough to require surgery. Complete blockage of the nasal airways by dilated ones, for example, might require an aspiration procedure, meaning the polyps would be thoroughly drained by a surgeon and the patient would be given antibiotics to counteract the post-procedure infection. Self-treatment is strongly discouraged, as punctured sacs of infected mucus may not heal properly or may cause scar tissue to build up in the nasal passages.
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