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Enlarged nasal turbinates
Can medication cure nasal turbinate hypertrophy?
Turbinate hypertrophy can often be cured with medication, and if not cured, partial surgical removal of the hypertrophied turbinates can be curative. Turbinate hypertrophy is generally caused by chronic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis. It manifests due to lowered immunity and resistance in the body, leading to repeated inflammatory infections or allergic reactions in the nasal cavity, resulting in bilateral nasal turbinates swelling diffusely, becoming edematous, proliferating, and enlarging. After turbinate enlargement, it mainly causes the patient to experience persistent nasal congestion on both sides, accompanied by a foreign body sensation and swelling in the nasal cavity. Patients will also have mucous secretions from the nasal cavity and will require a detailed examination at the hospital, where tests such as nasal endoscopy, sinus CT, and allergen antibody tests can provide a diagnosis. For treatment, nebulized inhalation can be used with good effectiveness for chronic rhinitis. For allergic rhinitis, symptomatic anti-allergic treatment is needed to shrink the turbinates and relieve nasal congestion. If conservative treatment is ineffective, local surgical treatment may be necessary.
What causes turbinate hypertrophy?
Enlarged turbinates are generally caused by acute and chronic inflammation. This condition is commonly seen in both acute and chronic rhinitis, as well as acute and chronic sinusitis. It occurs due to repeated inflammatory stimuli, causing the nasal turbinate mucosa to become congested, swollen, and hyperplastic. This leads to persistent worsening bilateral nasal congestion in patients. During an examination with an endoscope, significant congestion and swelling of the bilateral middle and lower turbinates can be observed. In terms of treatment, it is crucial for patients to first identify the cause of their condition. If the cause is acute or chronic rhinitis, symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment should be initiated. Additionally, rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution can be very effective. If the patient suffers from acute or chronic sinusitis, local surgical treatment may be necessary. As long as the inflammation is eliminated, the enlargement of the turbinates will gradually recover. It is also important to maintain a light diet, abstain from smoking and alcohol, and engage in regular exercise to restore the function of the nasal turbinate mucosa. (The use of medication should be conducted under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
What should I do if my nasal turbinates are swollen, painful, and bleeding?
Turbinate hypertrophy accompanied by localized dryness and pain require symptomatic anti-inflammatory treatment initially, utilizing antibiotics and nebulized inhalation to alleviate local symptoms. It’s also necessary to visit a hospital for an endoscopic nasal examination to determine the cause. Generally, such conditions arise from an acute rhinitis flare-up, a manifestation of decreased immunity and resistance, leading to viral or bacterial infections affecting the nasal turbinate mucosa. Patients may experience turbinate hypertrophy along with persistent nasal congestion and yellow nasal discharge. In severe cases, fever and headaches may occur. Treatment should first focus on symptomatic anti-inflammatory and antiviral therapies, along with the use of corticosteroids for nebulized inhalation. Drinking warm water and getting plenty of rest can gradually improve the condition.
Is saline effective for turbinate hypertrophy?
Enlarged turbinates are a relatively common nasal disease. Rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution has some therapeutic effects, but the specific effects vary greatly among individuals. Some patients experience good results, while others do not. In such cases, it is necessary to perform a nasal endoscopy and sinus CT scan to help assess the extent of the condition. If rinsing alone is ineffective, treatment should also include oral medications and nasal sprays. For a small number of patients who still do not respond well to standard conservative medication, surgical treatment might be considered, and long-term regular follow-ups are necessary to monitor for any recurrent episodes. (Please follow medical advice when using medications.)
If turbinate hypertrophy is not treated surgically, what could be the consequences?
If turbinate hypertrophy is not surgically treated, it can lead to persistent bilateral nasal congestion in patients, accompanied by swelling and a severe foreign body sensation in the nasal cavity, which can lead to diminished sense of smell, memory deterioration, and other related symptoms. Turbinate hypertrophy is primarily caused by prolonged inflammatory stimulation of the nasal mucosa, leading to diffuse congestion, edema, proliferation, and hypertrophy of the bilateral turbinates in patients, resulting in persistent nasal congestion. A detailed examination with an endoscope at a hospital can confirm the diagnosis. In terms of treatment, initial approaches include nebulized inhalation therapy to shrink the turbinates and alleviate nasal congestion. Regular physical exercise can also help restore the function of the nasal mucosa. If conservative treatments are ineffective and the turbinates continue to be enlarged, local surgical removal may be required to cure the condition.
Can hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates be reduced by taking anti-inflammatory drugs?
Whether taking anti-inflammatory drugs is needed for enlarged turbinates depends first on identifying the cause of the enlargement. If the enlargement of the turbinates is caused by bacterial infection, it is appropriate to take anti-inflammatory medication such as antibiotics. However, if it is caused by allergies, antibiotics will be ineffective. Generally, there are two reasons for enlarged turbinates. The first is due to symptoms caused by acute inflammatory infections, commonly seen in clinical cases of acute rhinitis or acute sinusitis. Clinically, these are most often caused by infections from hemolytic streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in congested, swollen, and hypertrophic mucous membranes of the turbinates. Antibiotics such as penicillin or cephalosporin can be effective in treatment. However, antibiotics are ineffective for allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis occurs when the immune and resistance levels are low, and the nasal cavity comes into contact with related allergens. Patients will also experience enlarged turbinates, along with symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. Treatment should focus on symptomatic allergy treatment to shrink the turbinates and alleviate nasal congestion.
Is correction of nasal turbinate hypertrophy a surgical procedure?
Enlarged turbinates are a common clinical sign, primarily caused by chronic inflammation in the nose and deviations in the nasal septum. Clinically, surgeries targeted at correcting enlarged turbinates are primarily conducted. Main approaches include: One method is the fracturing and outward movement of the turbinate bone; another is the excision of the submucosal part of the enlarged turbinate. Other treatments, such as plasma ablation therapy for the turbinates, are also viable. The specific treatment method should be chosen based on a facial examination, observations of the specific condition of the enlarged turbinates, as well as assessments from sinus CT scans and conditions of the turbinate bones.
Will the nose become larger if the nasal concha is hypertrophic?
Nasal turbinate hypertrophy is a relatively common otolaryngological condition. This condition mainly involves the growth and thickening of the tissue in the lower or middle nasal concha inside the nasal cavity. However, it does not affect the overall appearance of the nose; there are no obvious changes or deformities, nor significant enlargement. Symptoms of nasal turbinate hypertrophy may include nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headache, and dizziness. Upon experiencing these symptoms, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist for a nasopharyngoscope examination to assess the extent of the inflammatory response. In terms of treatment, most patients may consider using nasal spray medication and oral medication, while a small portion of patients might need to consider surgical treatment.
What should be noted for turbinate hypertrophy?
Patients with enlarged turbinates should pay attention to the following aspects: First, they need to visit an otolaryngologist regularly to observe changes in their condition. If accompanied by related clinical symptoms, medication should be considered. Second, in daily life, nasal irrigation with saline can be used to reduce the retention of nasal secretions, improve clinical symptoms, and alleviate the severity of enlarged turbinates. Third, it is important to avoid exposure to external irritants in daily life as much as possible and to avoid catching colds, as these factors can exacerbate the existing condition. Overall, enlarged turbinates are a common condition, and with timely treatment, the condition will gradually improve.
How long does it take to recover normally after turbinate hypertrophy surgery?
Turbinate hypertrophy is a relatively common ENT disorder. Most patients can consider conservative medication treatment, usually including oral medications and nasal sprays. Additionally, rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution can be utilized. If standardized medication does not lead to satisfactory results, surgical intervention might be necessary. Currently, the main procedures are partial turbinectomy under nasal endoscopy or plasma ablation surgery. Generally, these are minimally invasive surgeries with quite favorable outcomes. The recovery period varies among individuals, typically ranging from two weeks to about a month. Regular follow-ups are required during treatment. After surgery, nasal cleaning is necessary due to the presence of bloody secretions or crust in the nasal cavity, which is generally advised to be cleaned once every week or three days. (Please take medicines under the guidance of a professional physician.)