A nasal polyp is a fleshy growth from the edematous mucosa of the nose or the paranasal sinuses.
TYPES OF POLYPS
1. Antrochoanal it arises from the maxillary sinus and grows backwards and reaches the nasopharynx.
2. Ethmoidal- they are multiple bilateral and arise from the ethmoidal sinuses. They protrude forward.
Causes
Antrochoanal polyps usually occur in children and young adults. Ethmoidal polyps occur at any age.
Predisposing factors-
1. Ethmoidal polyps are usually of allergic origin.
2. Infection-it may produce polyps, which are single or multiple.
4. Mixed-a combination of factors mentioned above may be responsible for polyps.
Clinical features
1. Blocking of the nose -the nose becomes blocked and is not relieved by nasal decongestion drops.
2. Allergic polyp causes sneezing.
3. Discharge-purulent discharge may be present with infection. But clear mucous discharge is from the allergic polyps.
4. Expansion of the nose. Due to increase in size of the polyp, there is an expansion of the nose.
5. Loss of smell is usual with the polyp.
6. Due to obstruction by the polyp, there will be Snoring and mouth breathing.
7. Headache, and postnasal drip are rare.
8. Speech may be hyponasal.
Signs
1. External nose may be broadening in long standing polyps giving a frog like appearance.
2. The polyps are smooth, pearly white, pale and pulpy, and they are painless on touch.
3. Antrochoanal polyp may be seen hanging in the nasopharynx. If it is very large, it is visible in the oral cavity as a pear shaped swelling, hanging behind the soft palate.
Investigation.
X ray paranasal sinus-the polyp can be seen as opaque mass in concerned areas.
CT paranasal sinus
Polyp has to be differentiated from turbinates. Turbinates are pink, and painful on touch, and they shrink once the allergy is over.
Rhinosporidiosis-it bleeds on touch and usually gets after bathing in ponds and rivers.
Angioma –it is single, smooth red growth, which bleeds easily.
Treatment-in modern medicine removal of the polyp-polypectomy- is the treatment of choice.
But chance of recurrence is high as seen in clinical practice.
Homeopathic treatment
Homeopathic medicine act constitutionally and hence to root out the tendency for polyp formation homeopathy has got a promising role. Even after the surgery there is a chance of recurrence, which indicates the basic cause for the polyp is still operating within the body. This tendency can only be removed by a medicine that acts deeply in the constitution of the body. Hence homeopathy has a curative as well as the preventive role in the treatment of a polyp.
To know about the treatment
