Nasal Polyps are soft, painless, non-cancerous, growth on the lining of the nose or sinuses. They occur in groups like grapes on a stem, hang down like teardrops or grapes.

They are polypoidal masses arising mainly from the mucous membranes of the nose and paranasal sinuses.

The nasal polpyps are classified into two;

1. Antrocheanal polyps that arises from maxillary sinuses which is single and unilateral and found in children.

2. Entomoidal polyps that arises from ethmoidal sinuses which is multiple and bi-lateral. This is found in adults.

The small nasal polyps may not cause symptoms. The larger growths or groups of nasal polyps can block your nasal passages or lead to breathing problems, a lost sense of smell and frequent infections that leads to headache.

The nasal polyps are caused by allergy and rarely by cystic fibrosis, asthma for the adults. Although the pathogenesis of nasal polyps is unknown.

There are diseases associated with the polyps formation;

a) Asthma

b) Chronic Rhinosinusitis

c) Aspirin intolerance/salicylate sensitivity

d) Cystic fibrosis

e) Kartagener’s syndrome

f) churg-strauss syndrome

g) Nasal mastocytosis

Exposure to some forms of chromium can cause nasal polyps and associated diseases.