Nosebleeds in children: causes and treatment

Spontaneous nosebleeds that are not due to any external cause are also known in medical language as epistaxis. They seem alarming at first, especially when the blood haemorrhage is suffered by a child,

but in most cases it does not have consequences or a serious cause. Nosebleeds in children are usually harmless, painless, and go away after about ten minutes. But why do they occur?

What are the causes of nosebleeds in children?

Epistaxis is often triggered by a lesion in the so-called Kiesselbachi locus. This is an area in the front area of ​​the children’s nose, which is crossed by many small arteries and veins. If a child picks his nose, he can injure the sensitive nasal mucosa.

Also it is possible to injure it because the child has put a foreign object in the nostril, such as a pearl, a marble or any small object.

Other causes of nosebleeds in children are:

Sometimes, a growth spurt it can also cause injury to the nasal mucosa. If your child has a cold or allergies, frequent sneezing or forceful blowing of the nose it can also cause nosebleeds.When a child has undergone an operation on the throat or nose, epistaxis can also occur as a result, for example, after removal of nasal polyps.Dry nasal mucous membranes, and therefore easily vulnerable, they can promote frequent nosebleeds in children. Air that is too dry is a common cause.A blow to the nose It can also cause nosebleeds in children.

One thing to keep in mind is that Children’s noses bleed more frequently during the cold winter months. This is proven by the result of a study by specialist Matthew Purkey.

Is nosebleed common in children?

Frequent nosebleeds occur mainly in boys and girls between the ages of three and eight. It seems that boys are affected twice as often as girls.

Some children get nosebleeds once a week. Therefore if your child bleeds from the nose from time to time, there is no reason to worry in principle.

However, some children experience nosebleeds up to three times a week or more. If this is the case for your child, an otolaryngologist should take a closer look at your child’s nose and may use a laser to cauterize fragile vessels in the nasal mucosa.

How to stop nosebleeds

First of all, keep calm. If she is stressed or in a panic, this can easily be passed on to your child. Now follow these seven steps to stop nosebleeds in children:

Have clean gauze pads or cloths handy to collect blood from epistaxis.Sit your child up straight and make sure their head is tilted forward, not backwards as is often wrongly recommended. If the head moves towards the neck, blood can easily flow from the nose to the stomach.Place a cold washcloth on your child’s neck. A cold pack from the freezer wrapped in a tea towel is also suitable, a proven home remedy for nosebleeds in children. The cold stimulus causes the blood vessels in the nose to suddenly constrict.let the blood drain. It is important that the nostrils remain free, do not cover them with tissues or toilet paper.You can slightly pinch your nostrils while bleeding. This can help stop nosebleeds in the child.

The bleeding will stop within 15 minutes. When the bleeding has stopped you should remove clotted blood from the child’s nose, carefully with a damp tissue. Do not let the child blow his nose, this can trigger another episode.

Clean nasal mucous membranes can finally be treated and soothed with a special nasal ointment. This protects sensitive blood vessels.

How to prevent nosebleeds

Make sure your child drinks enough. The liquid ensures the moisture of the mucous membranes and thus prevents bleeding. In addition, there must be enough humidity in the room so that the nose does not dry out.

Remind your child that nose picking is one of the most common causes of epistaxis.

A bloody nose is especially annoying at night, both for children and adults. Nocturnal nosebleeds can be caused by seasonal allergies or inflammation, among other things.

Occasional nosebleeds during sleep are usually just as harmless. If in doubt, you can contact your pediatrician.

Nosebleeds in children: when to see a doctor?

When does a nosebleed in children become dangerous? If the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or less, you should see an ENT or pediatrician as soon as possible.

The same applies if the nosebleed is extraordinarily heavy or if the child feels unwell (for example with dizziness, nausea or circulatory problems). It’s very rare, but nosebleeds can also be caused by serious illnesses.

Scientific references: