Nasal polyps are noncancerous, soft, painless, and teardrop-shaped growths formed on the nasal passage. They are formed due to chronic inflammation in the nose and are associated with nose infections, allergies, and other immunity problems. Common symptoms of nasal polyps include runny nose, headaches, facial pain, low sensitivity to smell, nosebleeds, and loss of taste buds. There can be a lot of causes, but all of them are treatable.

Some causes and treatment options for nasal polyps are as follows.

Causes of nasal polyps
Nasal polyps can be formed at any age. They are commonly formed in middle-aged and young adults. The swelling is found in the sinuses and nasal passages. People who develop polyps have different immune systems. There is no known cause for the formation of polyps. However, some risk factors that can trigger and cause nasal polyps to form are as follows.

• Nasal infections
• Allergies
• Long-term swelling in the nose
• Sensitivity to aspirin
• Airborne fungi allergy
• Asthma
• Deficiency of vitamin D
• A genetic disorder resulting in thick mucus from sinus and nasal linings
• Family history
• Inflammation of blood vessels known as Churg-Strauss syndrome
• Genetic variations in the immune system
• Bacterial or viral infections
• Cystic fibrosis
• Rhinitis and hay fever

Treatment options for nasal polyps
The treatment goal for treating a nasal polyp is to eliminate or reduce in size. Oral medication is usually seen as a way to treat them. Surgeries are needed sometimes, but they don’t provide a permanent solution as the polyps are recurring in nature. However, some treatment options are as follows.

• Steroid tablets
  In severe cases of nasal polyps, the patients are prescribed oral steroid tablets that are to be taken along with nasal sprays or on their own. The tablets are effective and help the polyp to shrink in size.

• Nasal drops
  Patients with one or more small polyps are often prescribed nasal steroid sprays or nose drops, which shrink the polyp size by reducing the swelling and irritation.

• Other medicines
  Doctors often prescribe other medicines to treat long-term swelling in the nasal passage and sinuses and antibiotic treatment for recurring infections or other allergies.

• Supplements for vitamin D
  Therapeutic doses of vitamin D helps in reducing the symptoms of nasal polyps.

• Injectable steroids
  At times, oral steroids cause side effects, or they are ineffective. The doctors prescribe injectable doses of corticosteroids to treat the nasal polyps if they are severe.

• Medicines to treat sinusitis and nasal polyps
  If the patient is suffering from chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps, the doctor often prescribes a medicine called dupixent to treat the condition. It lessens the congestion and reduces the size of the nasal polyp.

• Surgery
  If oral medication efforts turn out to be futile, then an endoscopic surgery is performed to shrink or remove the nasal polyp to correct the issues of sinusitis.

The above mentioned are the causes and treatment options for nasal polyps.