Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
Nasal polypsin children, or pediatric polyps, are harmless lumps of tissue that grow in your child’s nasal passages. You might not even know they are there until they grow big enough to cause problems.
Verywell / Laura Porter
How Do I Know If My Child Has Nasal Polyps?
Common symptoms of nasal polyps include:
Nasal polyps are more common in adults than children. They can grow in one or both nostrils. They are also shaped like pears or grapes and typically grow in clusters.
While nasal polyps are the most common cause of nasal obstruction in children, there can be other culprits, such as a deviated septum (when the nasal septum is off center), enlarged adenoids (glands above the roof of the mouth, behind the nose), and tumors (both cancerous and noncancerous).
Causes of Nasal Polyps in Children
The exact cause of nasal polyps is not known, but these growths are associated with chronic inflammation in the nasal passages. When they develop in children, they often occur with other medical conditions, such as:
What Doctor Diagnoses Nasal Polyps?If your child’s pediatrician suspects nasal polyps, your child will likely be referred to a specialist, called an otolaryngologist, or ears, nose, and throat doctor (ENT).
What Doctor Diagnoses Nasal Polyps?
If your child’s pediatrician suspects nasal polyps, your child will likely be referred to a specialist, called an otolaryngologist, or ears, nose, and throat doctor (ENT).
Nasal endoscopy is also used to diagnose nasal polyps and is often performed in the doctor’s office.This procedure uses an endoscope, which is a long, flexible tube with a light at the end of it. This tube is inserted into your child’s nose and sinuses to look for potential polyps.
Less commonly, more imaging might be required to diagnose nasal polyps. This could include aCT (computed tomography) scanormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Because nasal polyps often occur with other medical conditions, your doctor might also recommend allergy testing or other blood tests for your child. Other diseases can have similar presentations to nasal polyps, so it is always helpful to have an ear, nose and throat doctor examine the patient. For example, a benign tumor called a juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma can cause symptoms that are very similar to symptoms from benign nasal polyps.
If your child has nasal polyps, there are several effective ways of treating the condition and reducing uncomfortable symptoms.
Initial treatment for nasal polyps aims to shrink the size of the growths in your child’s nose.Corticosteroid nasal spray decreases inflammation and swelling in the nose, which can effectively shrink or even get rid of nasal polyps. Your child’s doctor might also prescribe oral steroid medications.
Over-the-Counter Nasal Steroids Pros and Cons
Other medications, such as antihistamines and decongestants, can improve your child’s symptoms if they also have allergies. Infections are often treated with antibiotics. However, these medications do not treat the nasal polyps themselves.
If steroid medications aren’t effective, and your child continues to have serious side effects from nasal polyps, surgery might be required. This procedure is performed using nasal endoscopy—the same procedure used for diagnosis. The polyps are then removed with tools such as graspers or amicrodebrider.
The doctor might continue to have your child use a corticosteroid nasal spray after surgery to help prevent nasal polyps from growing back. Unfortunately, it is very common for nasal polyps to grow back.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Your ChildWhile nasal polyps aren’t harmful to your child, there are circumstances that warrant a trip to the doctor. These include:Thick yellow or green drainage from the noseFeverDifficulty breathing
When to Seek Medical Attention for Your Child
While nasal polyps aren’t harmful to your child, there are circumstances that warrant a trip to the doctor. These include:Thick yellow or green drainage from the noseFeverDifficulty breathing
While nasal polyps aren’t harmful to your child, there are circumstances that warrant a trip to the doctor. These include:
Coping with Pediatric Nasal Polyps at Home
Home remedies can be helpful in reducing side effects of nasal polyps. These interventions can also reduce inflammation in your child’s nose to help prevent nasal polyps from returning once they’ve been removed.
How to Choose the Right Humidifier for Your Needs
A Word From Verywell
While nasal polyps aren’t harmful, they can certainly make your child’s life more difficult. Breathing issues impact everything from energy levels to a good night’s sleep. Be proactive—talk to your child’s doctor about treatment options and ways to reduce your child’s symptoms.
Frequently Asked QuestionsNo. Nasal polyps do not go away without treatment.No. Nasal polyps are abnormal growths in the nasal passages but are common in children with other medical conditions such as allergies or cystic fibrosis.If nasal polyps aren’t causing issues with breathing, they don’t have to be removed. However, large or multiple polyps can cause progressive issues if they are not removed or treated with medication.Nasal polyps don’t typically bleed but might bleed if they are irritated and inflamed.
No. Nasal polyps do not go away without treatment.
No. Nasal polyps are abnormal growths in the nasal passages but are common in children with other medical conditions such as allergies or cystic fibrosis.
If nasal polyps aren’t causing issues with breathing, they don’t have to be removed. However, large or multiple polyps can cause progressive issues if they are not removed or treated with medication.
Nasal polyps don’t typically bleed but might bleed if they are irritated and inflamed.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Could nasal polyps be the cause of your stuffy nose?National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.About cystic fibrosis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).Cedars-Sinai.Allergic fungal sinusitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal endoscopy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal Polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Sinus infection (sinusitis).
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Could nasal polyps be the cause of your stuffy nose?National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.About cystic fibrosis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).Cedars-Sinai.Allergic fungal sinusitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal endoscopy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal Polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Sinus infection (sinusitis).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Could nasal polyps be the cause of your stuffy nose?National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.About cystic fibrosis.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).Cedars-Sinai.Allergic fungal sinusitis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal endoscopy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal Polyps.Cleveland Clinic.Sinus infection (sinusitis).
Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Could nasal polyps be the cause of your stuffy nose?
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Asthma.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.About cystic fibrosis.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).
Cedars-Sinai.Allergic fungal sinusitis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal endoscopy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal Polyps.
Cleveland Clinic.Sinus infection (sinusitis).
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