Page 28 - Waterfall City_Issue 11_2022

Waterfall City News

NASAL

POLYPS

By Dr Sibulele Cezula - Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at Netcare Sunninghill Hospital

W ith summer here, SYMPTOMS

• Nasal blockage
many people may
suffer from the usual
• Loss of smell and taste
hayfever symptoms
that come with hot weather and • Runny nose
• Postnasal drip
warm rains that move air pollutants • Facial pressure and pain
around. Some people may even suffer
from Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS). DIAGNOSES
• Nasal Endoscopy
CRS is a clinical syndrome persisting • CT Scan
for more than 12 weeks that is • MRI Scan
characterised by the inflammation
of the lining of the nasal cavity and TREATMENT
sinuses. In most cases, environmental The goal is to reduce the inflammation
and host factors are indicated as the causing the polyps.
cause. For CRS to occur, there must be
a dysfunctional interaction between This can be done by:
inhaled substances and the patient’s • Saline irrigation
immune system. The inhaled substances • Topical steroids
may be bacteria, fungi, allergens and/or associated with conditions such as • Short-course oral steroids
air pollutants. This interaction can result Cystic Fibrosis and Meningocele (a sac • Antibiotics in cases of infection or
in changes in the nasal lining, creating protruding from the spinal column) when the type of inflammation is
an inflammatory response. and they need to be investigated. known through biopsy.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis is classified into It is still unclear why some people After treatment, the polyps may
two types, Chronic Rhinosinusitis with develop polyps and others don’t. The reduce in size or disappear. However,
Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) and Chronic prevalence of CRSwNP increases with: sometimes surgical treatment is
Rhinosinusitis without Nasal Polyps • Age (40 - 60 years) needed. Surgery aims to remove
(CRSsNP). • Males more than females, though the polyps and open the sinuses to
females tend to have more extensive improve ventilation and delivery of
Polyps are benign inflammatory disease the medication. It is important to note
outgrowths of the nasal cavity and • Obesity that the surgery does not remove the
sinus lining. They are soft, pale, non- • Cigarette smoking inflammation that results in the polyps.
tender outgrowths. Polyps in CRSwNP • Asthma Therefore, it is essential to continue
are usually bilateral, affecting both with the medication after surgery to
sides of the sinus lining. In cases where CRSwNP is associated with adult-onset prevent the polyps from recurring.
the polyp is unilateral, the individual asthma, whereas CRSsNP is associated
needs to be examined for other causes, with childhood-onset asthma. Asthma
such as antro-choanal polyps and is reported in at least 25% of patients Note: There are several new treatments
tumours. Polyps in children can be with CRSwNP. in this area still undergoing trials.

26 Waterfall City Issue 11 2022