Nasal polyposis: what is the outcome after treatment?

There are some more difficult to deal with chronic diseases and troublesome signs. Even after a long treatment, signs still persist; complications or ineffective treatment? In any case, the doctor's advice is always necessary.

Nasal polyposis is a chronic inflammatory and characterized by the presence of tumors that develop in the nasal mucosal disease. These tumors are benign but generate chronic clinical signs:

- Nasal obstruction with rhinorrhea and sneezing

- Pain felt in the face, headache

- A reduction or loss of smell (this is a major sign)

- Change of taste

- Allergy and Asthma

Loss of smell (anosmia or) is mainly due to an obstruction of the olfactory cleft. The loss of smell can occur on one side. However, this sign depends on the stage of nasal polyposis. The loss of smell can also be due to persistence of predisposing factors such as pollen allergies, asthma, ...

Medical treatment requires the intervention of a general practitioner, a specialist in ENT, an allergist and possibly a dentist but also a pulmonologist.

Medical treatment is actually based on:

- Local corticosteroids with or without antibiotics

- A desired antihistamine

- A spray solution and / or wash (saline sea water, fresh water)

The medical treatment of substance is usually administered treatment.

However, any persistent signs requires further exploration and it is necessary to talk to his doctor. The safety and effectiveness of drugs are typically evaluated on a regular basis. Indeed, in case of failure of medical treatment, surgical treatment may be considered. After more than four annual treatments in medical treatment, with persistent signs and no decrease in volume of the polyposis, surgery is indicated.

Nasal polyposis tend to recur. However, surgery does not give complete recovery. It increases the effectiveness of local drug spray to restore the sense of smell and taste in the patient, and avoids frequent recurrences.

The laser also reduces the volume of nasal polyposis. Like surgery, the indication should be discussed and well specified.

Precautions:

- Certain foods may promote recurrences: peanuts (walnuts, pistachios, peanuts, peanut oil ...), shellfish, oysters, ...

- Some drugs such as penicillin, aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided

- Certain foods can prevent nasal polyposis as foods rich in antioxidants, rich in vitamins A, C and E, fruits and vegetables, ...