Left untreated, severe polyps in nose in children often result in ongoing sinus inflammation and pain, as well as chronic breathing problems. These polyps or growths don’t generally occur in children under the age of 10 years. When they do start forming, they typically develop in conjunction with an underlying chronic respiratory condition.

Background

Nasal Polyps are grape-like growths that develop in your child’s sinus membranes. Although it is possible that can grow in any child, it is more likely that they will develop in children who are already suffering from conditions due to chronic inflammation such as asthma, chronic sinusitis and cystic fibrosis. Usually the sinuses aren’t visible in the same manner as they are with adults, with the sinus polyp growths beginning near the top of the child’s sinus passages.

Symptoms

With paediatric nose polyp sufferers the symptoms are the same as they are with adult sufferers. These symptoms include snoring, impaired sense of smell, mouth breathing, runny nose and general sinus congestion. In addition to these symptoms children may suffer ear infections on a regular basis. Depending on how severe the polyps are, the child may suffer from more extreme problems such as sleep apnoea, particularly if the child has tonsil or adenoid issues.

Diagnosis

Should you think that your child suffers from sinus polyps, make an appointment with the child’s main doctor. Usually the doctor examines the nasal passages using a lighted device and will then decide whether the child should be referred to a specialist otolaryngologist (this is doctor who specialises in ear, nose and throat problems). The otolaryngologist will conduct testing of the child’s sinuses which will enable her to determine if polyps are present, as well as diagnose the presence of other disorders such as cystic fibrosis, a condition which commonly occurs alongside nasal polyps in children.

Treatment

The level of treatment the child will receive will depend on the severity of the polyps problem. In less severe cases, it’s possible that just steroid medications may be required. These steroids will lessen the underlying chronic sinus inflammation and have the effect of reducing the growth.

Should the child undergo surgery, then these steroids will be part of the polyps removal follow-up