Nasal polyps are the most common benign growths in the nasal cavity and often a contributing factor to complicated bacterial sinus infections. There are many unanswered questions about the incidence, cause, and optimal treatment of these lesions. The clinical features of nasal polyps include nasal congestion (100%), loss of smell and/or taste (75%), sneezing and runny nose (60%), post-nasal drip (65%), facial pain (35%), and itchy eyes (25%).

Usually in both sides of the nose, polyps are essentially outgrowths of the nasal mucosa and can occasionally be seen on exam with a nasal speculum. Sometimes they can only be seen with special equipment. The polyps are smooth, gelatinous, semi-translucent, pear-shaped, and pink to white in color. The polyps originate near the ethmoid sinuses (located at the top of the nose on both sides of the nasal cavity) and grow into the open areas of the nasal cavity. They sometimes grow large and numerous enough to cause nasal obstruction. They are more common in adults than in children. Since polyps are devoid of sensation, they can be distinguished from other swollen tissues by a lack of pain on probing.

Polyps are seen with greater frequency in people with asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), vasomotor rhinitis (may be caused by emotional upset or sexual arousal), certain kinds of drug use, and chronic sinus infections. They can be a sensitivity reaction to aspirin. Frequently, no specific cause can be found.

Conventional medical treatment with a nasal steroid spray and/or a short course of oral corticosteroids is usually effective, shrinking or eliminating the polyps. Surgery to remove the polyps and infected material is recommended if the medical treatment is not successful.

The problem with these approaches is that they are not addressing the cause. The best form of treatment would be to find out what the patient is allergic to and try to eliminate it.