Question: What are the various types of nasal polyps?
Answer: There are two types of nasal polyps: ethmoidal polyps and antrochaonal polyps.
What Are Ethmoidal Polyps
Ethmoidal polyps arise from ethmoidal sinuses.Ethmoidal polyps are multiple polyps and bilateral. They are due to the hypertrophy of the mucus membrane of the ethmoidal sinus. Frontal sinusitis is usually associated with ethmoidal polyps.
Asthma and aspirin allergy may be present with ethmoidal polyps. Most patients may suffer from nasal obstruction, loss of smell, headache, facial pain, and post nasal drip due to ethmoidal polyps.
What Are Antrochaonal Polyps
- Antrochaonal polyps arise from maxillary sinuses.
- Antrochaonal polyps are unilateral.
- They arise from walls of the maxillary antrum.
- They prolapse into the nasal cavity through the sinus opening into the nasopharynx.
- In this type of polyp, obstruction is unilateral. In most cases, they have to be surgically removed.
Dealing With Nasal Polyps
- Be it antrochaonal or ethmoidal, nasal polyps can be painful and bothersome to the patient.
- Also, these can affect normal olfactory function so that the patient may experience loss of the sense of smell.
- How does a patient know that he/she has nasal polyps? The following symptoms have been observed in patients suffering from this condition:
- Breathing difficulties
- Patient breathes through the mouth
- Blocked nose
- Frequent sinus infections
- Pain and tenderness over forehead and face
- Thick nasal discharge
- Post nasal drainage (drainage from nose down the throat)
- Loss of sense of smell and taste
- Frequent nose bleeds
- Heavy snoring at night
- If these symptoms are experienced, it is best to consult a physician as soon as possible so that the condition can be properly diagnosed. Only then can the right medications be used with higher chances of treating the problem.
Treatment For Nasal Polyps
- The first recourse is to use antibiotics and various medications to help alleviate the pain and deal with the symptoms. This can help in reducing inflammation. Although the main goal is to make the nasal polyps shrink, it is not an easy feat.
- Corticosteroid nasal sprays are used to help stop the growth of polyps. These can also help in preventing new ones from forming.
- If the polyps do not heal even after drinking the medications and using nasal sprays, then it might be necessary for the patient to undergo surgery. Surgical removal of the polyps is the best way to permanently solve the problem.