Nasal polyposis: a "nose" problem

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Although the word 'anosmia' became a

during the pandemic,

(and in silence, like hemorrhoids).

We are talking about people affected by chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis or, for friends, nasal polyposis, whose symptoms include loss of smell.

What is behind this name, polyposis, that very few of us know?

A

.

National Nasal Polyposis Day has recently been celebrated and it is worth taking a few minutes to learn about this disease that affects many people, even without them knowing it themselves.

What is nasal polyposis?

Imagine

This is more or less what happens when the chronic inflammation that appears inside the patient's nostrils ends up causing whitish masses called polyps.

The good news is that

.

The bad news is that they can grow to the point of forming a plug in the nostrils.

Who is mainly affected?

It usually appears

.

Although more studies are necessary to know the prevalence, it is estimated that it ranges between 1.1% and 4.4%.

As we mentioned, it is possible that there is an underdiagnosis of the disease since its symptoms can be confused with those of a common cold.

A 'big cold' that, in this case, does not go away.

What is the cause?

Although initially it was believed that the cause was allergic, the truth is that this is not always the case and today

.

It is known that tobacco, prolonged infections, asthma, genetic predisposition... There is even talk that the 'culprits' are some fungi, toxins, viruses or bacteria.

Is it associated with other diseases?

Nasal polyposis is often

One in four patients with asthma have nasal polyps and in these the disease can present in a more severe form due to the inflammatory load.

What are the symptoms?

As we mentioned, and to explain it in a very simple way, we could say that patients who

.

This is a

that significantly reduces your quality of life.

Among the most common symptoms are nasal obstruction, impaired smell, runny nose, difficulty breathing, snoring or insomnia.

How does it affect the quality of life?

Although

the symptoms described above may seem 'minor', the truth is that polyposis affects -and a lot- the quality of life of people.

For example, the

can affect the ability to concentrate or work performance.

Another symptom such as

can limit the

.

And it is important to consider the consequences of a symptom such as anosmia, both professionally and even for personal safety.

The

to the performance of some jobs, such as in the hospitality industry, and even entails risks, for example, by not being able to detect a gas leak.

All of this has

on the patient, and mental health problems can develop if the problem is not solved.

What alternatives exist to treat this problem?

One of the biggest problems is that

and that the chronic use of anti-inflammatory drugs is not free of possible complications.

Another step is surgical intervention although, on occasions, polyps can 'fight back'

in a few months.

Fortunately, there are new alternatives that can provide a solution and for this reason it is essential that patients affected with polyposis (or who believe they may be)

which in this case is an otolaryngologist.

The specialist will be able to individually assess each case and find the solution that best suits your problem.

A solution... of noses.

Finally, patient-oriented platforms such as this

can help by offering rigorous and close information by professionals and patients.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

• Apothecary Garcia