Enlarged nasal cones correspond to the increase of these structures, mainly by allergic rhinitis, which interferes with the passage of air and results in respiratory symptoms such as snoring, dry mouth and nasal congestion.
Nasal cones, also known as nasal corns or fluffy flesh, are structures in the nasal cavity that heat and moisten the inspired air to reach the lungs; However, when the cones enlarge, the air cannot pass as efficiently to the lungs, resulting in shortness of breath
Your doctor’s treatment depends on the degree of hypertrophy, cause, and signs and symptoms of the person.
Enlarged cones occur mainly as a result of allergic rhinitis, in which, due to the presence of triggers of an allergy, inflammation of the respiratory structures and therefore an increase in the nasal cones occurs.
However, this situation can also occur by chronic sinusitis or changes in the structure of the nose, mainly the deviated septum, in which there is a change in the position of the wall that separates the nostrils by blows or changes in their formation during fetal life. Learn how to identify the deviated septum.
Symptoms of cone hypertrophy are related to respiratory changes, as increased structures prevent air from passing through. Therefore, in addition to breathing difficulties, it is possible to observe:
These symptoms are similar to cold and flu symptoms, however, unlike these diseases, the symptoms of enlarged cones do not pass and therefore it is important to see the otolaryngologist or family doctor for evaluation of the nasal cavity and other tests on to make the diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment.
Treatment of enlarged nasal cones varies depending on the cause, degree of hypertrophy, and symptoms the person presents. In milder cases, when hypertrophy is not significant and does not compromise the passage of air, your doctor may recommend the use of medications to relieve inflammation and thus reduce the size of cones, such as nasal decongestants and corticosteroids.
When medication is not enough or when there is a significant blockage of air passage, surgery, better known as turbinectomy, may be recommended, which may be total or partial. In partial turbinectomy, only part of the enlarged nasal cone is removed, while the entire structure is removed in total. Other surgical techniques include turbinoplasties, which reduce the size of the nasal cones and do not remove them and usually have a postoperative with fewer complications. Understand how turbinectomy is performed and what recovery should look like.
In some cases, surgery is also required to correct the deviated septum, and this procedure is often accompanied by cosmetic surgery.