What Is Nose Bleeds? - Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

What Is Nose Bleeds?

Nosebleeds, or nasal bleeding, occur when there is bleeding from the tissues inside the nose. Typically, the combination of dry air and the delicate blood vessels lining the surface of the nose can lead to nosebleeds. However, you can take some simple steps to treat and prevent them. Although they can be bothersome, nosebleeds usually don't require much concern.

What Causes Nosebleeds?

Nosebleeds are very common in children. According to statistics, over 50% of children have experienced nosebleeds at least once before the age of 10. There are many reasons why children have nosebleeds, with the most common being dry air. This often occurs when the heating is on in winter or in hot, low-humidity climates in summer. Other common reasons for children's nosebleeds include:

Inflammation of the nose: Allergic rhinitis, sinusitis causing mucosal swelling and blood vessel dilation

Nasal trauma: Rough play among children, picking the nose can both trigger nosebleeds

Foreign objects in the nose: Children accidentally inserting small objects into their noses, which irritate the nasal mucosa and cause repeated inflammation and nosebleeds

Nasal tumors: Such as nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Side effects of medications: Such as blood thinners

Frequent forceful nose blowing

What Are the Symptoms of Nosebleeds?

In most cases, aside from blood flowing from the nose, you won't have any other symptoms. If you have posterior nosebleeds, some blood may flow into the stomach from the back of the throat. This can cause an unpleasant taste in the back of the throat and make you feel nauseous.

Treatment of Children's Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are usually not serious. If a child is otherwise healthy and has an occasional nosebleed, there's no need to worry; helping the child stop the nosebleed is sufficient. You can treat your child's nosebleed at home with the following methods:

Stay calm: Try to help the child relax; getting anxious might worsen the bleeding.

Ensure the child sits or stands, and tilt their head forward, then gently pinch the nostrils for 5 to 10 minutes.

Encourage mouth breathing at the same time, which can apply pressure to the bleeding site in the nasal cavity and help stop the bleeding.

After the bleeding stops, avoid touching or blowing the nose to prevent recurrence of bleeding.

If bleeding recurs, gently blow the nose to remove blood clots. You can also use vasoconstrictors such as oxymetazoline (e.g., Afrin, Mucinex, or Vicks Sinex), then pinch the nostrils and breathe through the mouth for 5 to 10 minutes to stop the bleeding.

When to See a Doctor?

If your child experiences the following conditions, please call your doctor as soon as possible:

Frequent nosebleeds: Bleeding more than 3 times a week for over three consecutive weeks.

Prolonged bleeding time: If bleeding does not stop within 30 minutes despite proper compression.

Excessive bleeding: Bleeding too much, causing difficulty in breathing

Nosebleeds in young children: Nosebleeds are less common in children under 2 years old; if there is excessive bleeding, seek medical attention promptly

Bleeding from multiple body parts: Such as bleeding gums, skin bruises, bloody or black stools, etc.

When children have nosebleeds, parents should remain calm. With the right methods and simple self-treatment, most nosebleeds can be managed at home. However, if the situation is complex, remember to seek medical attention promptly because the health of the child is always the most important.

Reference：

1.https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/nosebleeds

2.Di Cicco, M., Kantar, A., Masini, B., Nuzzi, G., Ragazzo, V., & Peroni, D. (2020). Structural and Functional Development in Airways Throughout Childhood: Children are Not Small Adults. Pediatric Pulmonology.

3.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13464-nosebleed-epistaxis