People with nasal polyps suffer from benign swellings or abnormalities of the nasal membranes. Usually these swellings develop in the sinus cavity, which is between the nose and eyes.
It is one of the four para nasal sinuses. From the sinus cavity the polyps, as a kind of bag, sink into the nose, causing complaints.
Fortunately, nasal polyps are usually benign and can be treated.
It is really not clear what is the cause of nasal polyps. These can be caused by an overproduction of fluid in the mucous membrane, by an allergic nasal infection. With one of the following symptoms, you are more likely to have polyps in the nose:
A chronic inflammation of the nasal and sinus cavity
Predisposition to allergies
Over actively responsive nasal cavity
Predisposition to asthma
Polyps occur more quickly in adults between 30 and 40 years with asthma or allergies.
Usually people suffer from polyps on both the nasal passages. If they occur on one side, this is often a sign of simple inflammation. Children rarely suffer from nasal polyps.
If children have inflammation , then cystic fibrosis is often the cause. In this chronic condition, the nose, lungs and paranasal sinuses are continuously inflamed.
People who smoke also have a higher risk of complaints.
A lot of research has been done to find out the exact cause of nasal polyps. There are two theories for this. According to one claim, the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is the cause. This bacterium activates the immune system, causing polyp formation.
The other claim suggests that polyps are caused by the fungus Alternaria alternata. If you react violently to these fungal components, the upper layer of the skin and the mucous membranes will be damaged, causing inflammation. This in turn leads to polyp formation.
