Nasal Polyp
A nasal polyp is a painless, benign i.e. Non cancerous growth on the lining of the nose or sinuses. Its a bag like swelling/inflammation of the mucus membrane of nose or the paranasal sinuses.
Types
- Based on location- 2 types- antrochoanal & ethmoidal.
- Antrochoanal Polyp grows stage wise- Antral part-nasal part- pharyngeal part
- Ethmoidal Polyps are bilateral and multiple.
Causation & Prevalance
- Antrochonaal type- mostly seen in children and young adults while ethmoidal can occur at any age
- Both sexes are equally affected
- Allergies
- Imbalance in nervous system
- Infections
Clinical Presentation
- Blocking of nose
- Sneezing in case of allergic polyps
- Discharge- clear in case of allergic polyps, while purulent discharge if infection is there
- Expansion of nose may occur in chronic ethmoidal polyp
- Anosmia- loss of smell
- Snoring & mouth breathing
- Speech may become hyponasal
- External nose may be broadened in long standing polyp
- Anterior Rhinoscopy- reveals smooth, pale, pearly white and pulpy polyp, which is painless on touching
- Posterior Rhinoscopy – antrochoanal polyp
Treatment & Prevention
- Polyps cause a lot of trouble if not treated well but Surgery is not a solution as well, because polyps tend to relapse again.
- Homeopathy has shown promising results , if treatment is received well in time. Earlier the better. Some of the most common medicines used are- Tuecrium, calcarea , Sanguinaria, Apis, Thuja etc
- Breathing exercises
Bibliography
- Bhargawas ENT- 12th Edition
- Kents Repertory
