It is likely that your GP will ask you about your symptoms and carry out a physical examination of your nostrils.
Nasal polyps near the openings of your nostrils may be easy to see by simply shining a light up your nose. However, further tests may be needed to locate polyps that are further up your nasal passageways or in one of your sinuses.
Further testing
If further testing is required, it will usually be carried out at the ear, nose and throat (ENT) department of your local hospital.
A diagnosis of nasal polyps can usually be confirmed by carrying out a computerised tomography (CT) scan of your nasal passageways and sinuses. A CT scan involves taking a series of X-rays and then using a computer to assemble them into a more detailed image.
Polyps will usually show up as distinctive bulges in the walls of your nasal passageways and sinuses.
If it is thought that an allergy may be contributing to your symptoms, you may be referred for an allergy skin prick test. This involves pricking your skin with tiny amounts of substances known to be common causes of allergies to see if your skin reacts.
Read more about diagnosing allergies.
Children
Nasal polyps are not usually found in children, with the exception of children who have cystic fibrosis. Therefore, if your child develops nasal polyps, it is usually recommended that they are tested for cystic fibrosis as a precaution.
A widely used test for cystic fibrosis involves measuring the amount of salt in a sample of sweat. An unusually high amount of salt may be due to cystic fibrosis.
Read more about diagnosing cystic fibrosis.
