"It Wasn't Just Rhinitis"... Three Months of Nasal Congestion Was Due to This [Kok! Health]

Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

Early Diagnosis and Consistent Management Are Key

Many people suffer from a runny or stuffy nose every spring during the changing of the seasons. Most dismiss these symptoms as a simple cold or allergic rhinitis, but if the symptoms persist for more than three months and it becomes difficult to smell, the situation is different. It may be chronic rhinosinusitis accompanied by nasal polyps.

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Chronic rhinosinusitis, commonly known as “chronic sinusitis,” refers to a condition where inflammation occurs in the sinuses, the hollow spaces around the nose, causing the mucous membranes to swell and accumulate inflammation. If symptoms continue for more than three months and do not respond well to antibiotic treatment, it progresses to the chronic stage. The condition becomes more serious if nasal polyps are also present. Nasal polyps develop when inflammation caused by sinusitis becomes chronic, causing the nasal mucosa to swell and grow like water-filled cysts. If left untreated, they can grow large enough to fill the nasal cavity. In addition to nasal congestion, they can block the delivery of scent particles to the olfactory epithelium, leading to a diminished or lost sense of smell.

Kim Dongyoung, president of the Korean Rhinologic Society and professor of otolaryngology at Seoul National University Hospital, advised, “Although chronic rhinosinusitis is a very common disease, it is often mistaken for simple rhinitis, causing patients to miss the optimal time for treatment. Especially if decreased sense of smell is present, there is a high probability of nasal polyps, so a thorough diagnosis by an otolaryngology specialist is essential.”

Treatment involves removing inflammation and polyps via endoscopic sinus surgery and widening the passages inside the nose. Even after surgery, consistent management through medication, nasal sprays, and nasal irrigation is essential. Patients with asthma or those who smoke have a higher recurrence rate, often requiring additional surgeries. Recently, biological agents such as dupilumab have garnered attention as new treatment options for patients with refractory disease. Biological agents are antibody therapies that block inflammatory mediators (IL-4, IL-13), dramatically reducing inflammatory reactions, significantly shrinking nasal polyps, and improving the sense of smell.

Above all, chronic rhinosinusitis cannot be completely cured with a single treatment. Like hypertension or diabetes, it is a chronic inflammatory disease that requires lifelong management, making regular visits to an otolaryngologist to monitor the condition of the nose important. Kim emphasized, “Chronic rhinosinusitis is a disease that can be sufficiently overcome with early diagnosis and continuous management. I hope everyone will protect their nasal health for life through regular checkups.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.