A polyp is a small benign neoplasm, the growth of such a tumor begins in the maxillary sinuses. Primary signs of polyps in the nose are manifested when they acquire a sufficiently large size and partially impede breathing due to overlapping of the nasal passage.
How do polyps look in the nose and what are they dangerous?
Considered formations are overgrown mucosa, therefore they have the same pinkish color and soft structure. Polyps in the sinuses of the nose look like small growths, resemble bunches of grapes. Tumors of large size are very easy to examine without special studies.
Such a disease of the nasal mucosa like polyps at first seems quite harmless. But without proper treatment and prevention of neoplasms, a benign tumor can become a malignant tumor, especially if the patient suffers from chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.
Polyps in the nose - how to determine the presence?
To diagnose polyposis rhinosinusitis can the otolaryngologist even at the first examination. With the help of a sinus dilator (a rhinoscope), a specialist will in any case see neoplasms in the lumen, can describe their nature, magnitude and degree of inflammation. Additional studies include endoscopy and computed tomography, which are prescribed for advanced stages of the disease.
Polyps in the nose are the main symptoms
First of all, there is a complicated nasal breathing, the patient has a feeling of permanent nasal congestion, even if there are no other signs of a cold or flu. In addition, there are following signs of polyps in the nose:
- periodic headache ;
- sneezing, itching in the maxillary sinuses;
- decreased ability to smell and taste;
- discharge from the nose, which can be both purulent with the sap, and transparent.
It is worth noting that the choanal polyp in the nose assumes difficulty with breathing only on one side, therefore for a long time the patient simple does not pay attention to this symptom. In addition, this variety of growth can grow to very large sizes and sag in the oral cavity.
A bleeding polyp in the nose is one of the difficult cases for therapy, because it often leads to anemia with prolonged ignoring of the problem, and can also lead to an emergency situation when the patient risks choking with blood.
Polyps in the nose - symptoms and treatment
With small tumor sizes, conservative (medicamental) methods of therapy are usually prescribed. They include the use of topical steroids, anti-allergic drugs and cromoglycates (stabilizers of cell membranes). In some cases, it is necessary to supplement the treatment regimen with antibiotics , immunomodulators, a complex of vitamins.
If drug therapy does not have an effect, the possibility of surgical removal of nasal polyps is considered. The method is chosen individually for each patient, but recently, minimally invasive operations (evaporation with a laser beam, removal by a shiver) are increasingly preferred.
Prevention of polyps in the nose
To establish the exact cause of the formation of the tumors in question has not yet been possible. It is known that people with chronic diseases of the maxillary grooves and patients suffering from allergic reactions have a greater propensity to grow polyps. Also, neoplasms are often found in the curvature of the nasal septum or other pathologies of the structure of the nose.
Given the information, the only way to prevent polyps can be considered the prevention of inflammatory processes in the nasal sinuses, vaccination against influenza during epidemics.