Nasal polyps
Overview
Nasal polyps are painless soft growths inside your nose. They're not usually serious, but they can keep growing and block your nose if not treated.
Symptoms
Symptoms of nasal polyps include: a blocked nosea runny nosea feeling that mucus is slowly dripping down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)a reduced sense of smell or tastesnoring Nasal polyps can sometimes feel like acold. But colds tend to clear up within a few days, whereas nasal polyps will not get better unless they're treated. If your polyps block your sinuses (the air pockets around your nose) you may also have symptoms ofsinusitis.
Causes
It's not clear what causes nasal polyps. Certain things can increase your risk of getting nasal polyps, like: asthmaan intolerance or sensitivity to aspirin Nasal polyps are rare in children.
Treatment
A GP should be able to tell if you have nasal polyps by looking inside your nose. If you have nasal polyps, you'll usually be given steroid nose drops or a spray to shrink the polyps. Sometimes, you may be given steroid tablets, usually for up to 2 weeks, to help relieve symptoms. Make sure you follow the advice of the GP about how to use your medicine and how long to take it for.