Causes of Turbinate Hypertrophy
The causes for turbinate hypertrophy are not only restricted to the allergy based symptoms but also incorporate:
- Allergic rhinitis.
- Change in temperature.
- Drugs.
- Hormones.
- Upper respiratory infections can cause turbinate hypertrophy.
- Vasomotor rhinitis can cause turbinate hypertrophy.
The nasal spray is one of the very ordinary treatments for the symptoms of an allergy, but long term usage will eventually lead to complications such as the turbinate hypertrophy.
Signs and Symptoms of Turbinate Hypertrophy
In most of the cases, it is seen that the people with turbinate hypertrophy are not able to breathe through one or the both side of their nose. The nasal congestion and the inability to breathe through the nose are some of the key signs and symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy.
The signs and symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy range depending on the severity of the obstruction but among it the most common one are:
- Rhinorrhea: It occurs when the nose has the full amount of mucus.
- Nasal congestion is a common symptoms of turbinate hypertropy.
- Pressure in forehead.
- Mid-facial pain.
- Mild to a severe headache.
For those who have already grown tolerating such symptoms, for them to distinguish between the allergies symptoms and the turbinate hypertrophy is very difficult.
Tests to Diagnose Turbinate Hypertrophy
Imaging studies can be used to diagnose turbinate hypertrophy. CT scanning is very much useful for the delineating the extent of the disease inside the patient for those who have acute recurrent rhinosinusitis or the underlying chronic rhinosinusitis. In the evaluation of the nasal headaches, the anatomic relationship between the septum, the middle turbinates and the lateral nasal are very helpful.
Rhinomanometric testing for turbinate hypertrophy is very useful as the research tool in order to assess certain parameters of the nasal airflow. This testing is very much useful for comparing the nasal airflow that is from side to side and present in the preoperative evaluation of the nasal airflow as compared to the postoperative situation.
Also Read:
