Nasal polyps are non-cancerous growth in the sinuses. Some of the symptoms of nasal polyps include loss of smell, breathing problems, nasal drip, decreased sense of taste, and a runny nose. Read on to know the causes and types of nasal polyps.

Causes and types of nasal polyps

Types of nasal polyps

There are primarily two main types of nasal polyps: antrochoanal polyps and ethmoidal sinusitis.

Antrochoanal polyps

Antrochoanal polyps are considered to be solitary sinonasal polyps that seem to rise from the maxillary sinus. From the maxillary sinus, they pass to the nasopharynx and go through to the posterior nasal cavity and sinus ostium. Because of this, the posterior nasal cavity and sinus ostium get enlarged. Lesser-known polyps, which are similar, can arise in the sphenoid sinus that then extends to the nasopharynx. These are called as sphenochoanal polyps. Others like this type include frontochoanal, nasochoanal, and ethmochoanal polyps.

Causes of antrochoanal polyps

• Chronic sinusitis

This infection is thought to be one of the main causes of antrochoanal polyps. Although 25% of the patients suffering from antrochoanal polyps have chronic sinusitis, there is no proof of a causal relationship between the two.

Ethmoidal sinusitis (ethmoidal polyps)

Ethmoidal sinusitis refers to the inflammation of a specific group of sinuses. This group of sinuses is located between the eyes and the nose. These sinuses are known to be hollow spaces inside the bones, which are around the nose. They seem to have a lining of mucus, which prevents the nose from drying. This inflammation of the sinuses ultimately leads to pain and pressure, which is felt between the eyes and around the nose.

Read on to know the causes of ethmoidal sinusitis.

• Deviated septum

A deviated septum is another one of the known causes of ethmoidal sinusitis. A deviated septum is the result of the wall of tissue tasked with separating the nostrils from getting dislocated sideways. This occurrence causes ethmoidal sinusitis.

• Common cold

The common cold is one of the most common causes of ethmoidal sinusitis. Some of the most common nasal symptoms include runny nose, congestion, sneezing, watery nasal secretions, losing taste or smell, nose feeling stuffy, sinus pressure, drainage in the back of the throat, and post-nasal drip.

• Enlarged adenoids

There are small patches of tissue in the backside of the nasal cavity, where the throat and nose connect. Their enlargement can cause ethmoidal sinusitis.

These are the causes and types of nasal polyps that you should know.