Kids' nosebleeds can be frustrating and scary, but they're also pretty common.
A nosebleed is quite a usual occurrence in children. It is rare for children to have a nosebleed that requires medical attention, but it's still important to know what to do if one happens.
Kids' noses bleed more easily than adults because they don't have much of a protective layer on the inside of their noses like we do. This means that any time there is trauma to the nose—like when kids get hit in the face or fall on their face—it's likely that there will be some bleeding.
What Is Epistaxis
Epistaxis is the medical term for nosebleeds.
The bleeding can occur from the nostrils or the back of the nose, and it can be a sign of a serious problem.
Bleeding can occur because of trauma to the nose, such as from hitting your nose on something or due to high blood pressure.
What Happens During a Kid’s Nosebleed
Nosebleeds are a common cause of concern for many parents. While they can be alarming, most nosebleeds in kids are minor and self-limiting.
The most common causes of nosebleeds in children are the trauma of putting their finger up the nose or picking at their nose, which can result in a small nick on the inside lining of the nasal cavity that bleeds when it's touched or moved.
In young children who haven't learned to blow their noses, this may also happen from inhaling too hard during sucking from a pacifier or bottle.
Other common causes include blowing the nose too hard, getting hit in the face, having allergies or cold symptoms (allergic rhinitis), or having an upper respiratory infection like sinusitis.
How Long Does a Child's Nosebleed Last?
Most kids will experience their first nosebleeds between 4 months and 4 years old, but they can occur later in childhood as well. Most nosebleeds stop on their own within 10 minutes, but some may last longer. If your child’s bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 to 20 minutes or if he or she has several episodes in a row, take him or her to the doctor immediately.
Nosebleed Causes in Children
What causes nosebleeding in kids?
Nosebleeds are a common occurrence and can happen to anyone. They occur when one or more of the small veins that line the inside of the nose burst. Almost all kids will have at least one nosebleed during their early years, with some having several a week! Here are some reasons behind your kid's nosebleed:
1. Minor trauma can cause your kid's nosebleed. This includes him picking his nose, putting a foreign object inside it, blowing his nose too hard, falling on it or getting hit on the nose by a ball/other objects.
2. Colds and allergies may cause swelling or irritation inside the nose, leading to nosebleeds.
3. Low humidity could dry out the inside of your child's nose, making it bleed.
4. Abnormal blood clotting caused by anything that interferes with the blood's clotting ability, such as aspirin, could cause nosebleeds.
You might have noticed that some kids get nosebleeds more frequently than others. This is because the veins inside their nose are closer to the mucous membrane than other children's, making them more susceptible to burst when the child picks his nose or gets hit on the nose by a ball or another object.
Regardless of how often your child gets nosebleeds, it's good to know what to do if and when it happens.
How to Stop a Nosebleed in a Child
Nosebleeds are common in children and can be scary, but they're usually not serious. If your child has a nosebleed, here's what you should do:
- Remain calm. Seeing all that blood may be overwhelming, but it's rarely serious.
- Get your child to sit down and slightly tilt his head forward. If he is old enough, get him to blow his nose gently.
- If he is not old enough to sit by himself, sit him on your lap.
- Pinch the soft part (the lower part) of your child's nose between your thumb and finger and hold it firmly for at least 10 minutes. Don't release your grip to see if the nose has stopped bleeding.
- Try to distract your child while you pinch his nose, as it's best he doesn't struggle and stays calm. You could try getting someone else to read a book or sing a song.
- Release pressure on the nose after 10 minutes and check if the bleeding has stopped. If it hasn't, repeat this step for another 10 minutes.
- After your kid's nosebleed has stopped, discourage him from playing rough games for at least a few hours in case the nosebleed starts again.
What to avoid doing
Nosebleeds can often be scary and stressful for parents and kids alike, but there are some things you can do to help make it less frightening:
- Don't panic! Nosebleeds are pretty common in kids and usually aren't serious.
- Don't get them worked up. Nosebleeds are often triggered by something that makes the blood vessels in the lining of the nose swell up quickly. This makes the blood vessels bleed more easily. So try to keep them calm so they don't get too worked up.
- Don't rush things! It's natural to want to help your child feel better right away, but try not to rush things—it'll only make things worse if you try too hard (and it might even make your child feel even more scared).
- Don't let them blow their nose too hard! Blow dries out nasal passages and makes them more likely to get dry again—which can make bleeding worse! So don't let them blow until they've stopped bleeding
- Do not ask your child to lean back, as this might cause blood to flow down the back of the throat and may lead to gagging, coughing or vomiting.
- Avoid stuffing tissues, gauze or any other material in your child's nose to stop the nosebleed.
When to Worry About a Nosebleed
You don't want to overreact to a nosebleed, but it's also smart to know when it's time to take action. Here are some signs that you should get your child checked by a doctor.
1. The nosebleed lasts longer than 10 minutes. If the bleeding doesn't stop after 10 minutes, call your doctor or head to the emergency room.
2. The nosebleed comes out of both nostrils at once (known as epistaxis). This could be a sign of an infection inside your child's nose called a septal hematoma, which requires surgery.
3. The bleeding occurs in the mouth instead of just from the nose (known as hemoptysis). If this happens, go straight to the ER because it could be a sign of something serious like tuberculosis or lung cancer.
4. Your child has been injured in some way that might have caused internal bleeding, such as falling down stairs or being hit by a car while riding their bike without wearing a helmet—even if there isn't any visible blood on their face or clothing!
5. Your child has inserted a foreign object up his nose;
6. Your child is unusually pale, sweaty or unresponsive (best to call 995 in this case or take them straight to Emergency);
7. If they have lots of nosebleeds along with a stuffy nose. This could mean that he has an easily broken blood vessel or growth in the nose. If it's the former causing the bleeding, the doctor may touch that point with silver nitrate to stop the bleeding (this is painless).
How to Prevent Your Kid’s Nosebleed
If your kid is prone to nosebleeds, you know how frustrating and scary they can be. You don't want your child to feel scared or embarrassed, but you also don't want them to get hurt.
Fortunately, there are ways to help prevent nosebleeds. Here are some tips for preventing nosebleeds in your child:
- Make sure your child isn't dehydrated. If your child has a dry nose, it can cause the blood vessels in the nose to crack, leading to bleeding. You should check their skin for dryness, or test their urine for signs of dehydration (such as dark colouration).
- Have them avoid blowing their nose too hard—this can break blood vessels or irritate them further and cause bleeding.
- Some kids find that using an over-the-counter decongestant helps relieve pressure in their sinuses and reduce the risk of nosebleeds.
- If all else fails, use a saline solution on the inside of the nostril; this will help stop bleeding while also relieving congestion and irritation.
If all these measures fail, consult an ENT surgeon who may use a diathermy procedure to seal off the affected area. This is usually done under general anaesthesia.
According to medical experts, this procedure usually gives your child anywhere from 6 months to a year of relief from nosebleeds.
Updates by Pheona Ilagan
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