WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR CHILD GETS A NOSEBLEED?

A nosebleed is bleeding from tissues inside the nose (nasal mucus membranes) caused by a broken blood vessel. The medical word for nosebleed is epistaxis. Most nosebleeds in children occur in the front part of the nose close to the nostrils. This part of the nose has many tiny blood vessels. These can be damaged easily.

 

A nosebleed can look scary, but is usually not a serious problem. Nosebleeds are common in children. They happen more often in dry climates. They also happen more during the winter. That’s when dry heat in homes and buildings can cause drying, cracking, and crusting inside the nose. Many children outgrow nosebleeds during their teen years.

 

Nosebleeds can be caused by many things. Some common causes include:
 

-Dry air

-Picking the nose

-Blowing the nose too hard

-Injury to the nose

-Colds and allergies

-Object in the nose
 

In many cases, no specific cause for a nosebleed is found.
 

How is a nosebleed treated in a child?
 

-Calm and comfort your child.
 

-Have your child sit up and lean forward slightly. Don’t have your child lie down. This is to prevent him or her from swallowing blood. Swallowing blood may make your child vomit. Don’t have your child put his or her head between the knees. This can make bleeding worse.
 

-Tell your child to breathe out of his or her mouth. Gently pinch the nostrils closed for 5 to 10 minutes. Don’t stop pinching to check if bleeding has stopped.
 

-Apply a cold compress to the bridge of the nose. Don’t put tissues or gauze in your child’s nose.
 

-If bleeding does not stop, repeat the above steps again.
 

-Once the bleeding stops, tell your child not to rub, pick, or blow his or her nose for 2 to 3 days. This will let the broken blood vessel heal.

 

When should I call my child’s healthcare provider?
 

 

-You can’t stop the nosebleed

-Your child has an injury to the head or face

-Your child feels faint, weak, ill, or has trouble breathing

-Your child has bleeding from other parts of the body, such as in the stool, urine, or gums, or bruises easily

-An object is stuck in your child's nose