For many years, it was thought that polyps are small tumors of the nasal or sinus mucosa. However, after many studies, it is now believed that nasal polyps are formed as a result of frequent local swelling of nasal or sinus mucosa, which enlarge by increasing sub-mucosal edema and them expose to the air pipe and cause some symptoms.
Regarding the prevalence of the disease (1-4% of population) and its probable adverse effects, it seems that finding the etiological factors, reasons of growth, increasing in numbers, and frequent recurrence are very essential.
Besides, considering current short time period of treatment, we should pay attention to some infectious agents such as fungi. Nowadays, with increasing the use of antibiotics, many fungi both saprophytes and pathogens are appeared in many diseases some of which are life-threatening. Specially, we cannot rule out the importance of fungal infections in large cities.
In this study, attempts were made to investigate prevalence of fungal infections in nasal polyposis, and propose suitable treatment in addition to the routine one.
During 7 months, polyp samples from patients with nasal polyposis were collected in ENT ward in either Emam or Amir-AAlam Hospital. From the total amount of samples (50; 34 men, 16 women), both direct test with Potas 10% and culture with Sabour dextrose agars were performed. 42% in direct test and 34% culture were recognized as fungi in polyposis which include 30% aspergilus flavus and 4% aspergilus fomigatus. However, none of invasive fungi were found in pathological lamella. Finally, significant differences were seen between positive and negative cases in fungal polyp considering gender, age, job, susceptible factors, and previous polyp or sinus surgery.