Children & Nosebleeds

Children-Nosebleeds-UCI-Head-Neck

When a child’s nose is bleeding, parents usually panic. However, nosebleeds are actually quite normal at a young age. They can typically happen with children, but parents should be able to determine what causes chronic nosebleeds. Additionally, with the help of an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, parents can find ways to avoid them in the future.

Common Causes of Nosebleeds

Children often pick their nose too hard or even put things in their nose, which can lead to nosebleeds. Sometimes, their face gets hit by an object such as a ball, and this can cause nosebleeds as well. There are also environmental causes, including dry air that causes the lining of the nose to dry out.

Similarly, some illnesses requiring extra oxygen supply can cause nose dryness, which can result in nosebleeds. The child may also have a cold or an allergy that causes swelling or irritation in the nose. Other causes include having abnormal growths and structure of the nose. If the child is taking medications that affect how the blood clots such as aspirin, parents may want to tell the doctor about that as well.

Treatments for Nosebleeds

If the child vomits, it can mean that the blood has reached the back of his nose and gone down his throat. To prevent this from happening, the child should remain sitting or standing without putting anything inside the nose. His head should be slightly leaning forward. Parents can pinch the nose, particularly the lower part, for about 10 minutes.

Typically, bleeding stops after a few minutes and children do not feel sick afterward. However, if it does not stop, parents should call the doctor. Immediate medical attention is required.

The doctor will ask questions about what may have contributed to the nosebleed. If the parent knows the cause, determining the treatment is much easier. For instance, if the cause is dry air, the doctor may simply advise the parents to use a vaporizer or humidifier in the child’s room to help prevent nosebleeds from happening again. For young patients who live in a region with a dry climate, a saline nose drop may be prescribed for use daily.

Meanwhile, nosebleeds that occur often may be due to a growth in the blood vessel or passages in the nose. A common treatment for this is silver nitrate, which stops the bleeding when it occurs.