Soft, painless, fleshy growths inside the nasal passages and sinuses. They may be single or multiple, and are usually teardrop-shaped. They affect both genders equally and usually appear in young and middle-aged adults.
They are generated by multiple causes, among which previous infections, asthma, allergies, etc. stand out.
Most often they do not cause symptoms. When they do appear, they are usually non-specific symptoms such as runny nose, decreased sense of smell and/or taste, headache, pressure in the face or sinus area and hoarseness. Rarely, they cause shortness of breath.
Diagnosis should be suspected by clinical examination and direct inspection by an ENT specialist.
It is advisable to prevent their occurrence by controlling allergies and asthma, avoiding nasal irritation and breathing through the nose in humid environments. Nasal washes can be performed to eliminate mucus and irritating substances that may inflame the mucosa. Only the most severe cases that cause shortness of breath, sleep apnoea or asthma flare-ups are those that require surgery to remove the polyps. An operation does not ensure that they will not recur, as they may recur.
You should consult your doctor if you experience shortness of breath, severe headache or sudden worsening of symptoms.
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- Otorrinolaringología. Manual ilustrado. Walter Becker, Hans Heinz, CarlRudolf. Capítulo 2 Nariz, senos paranasales y cara. Pág 132-133.
