Childhood Nosebleeds: What Parents Need to Know
Around 30 percent of children have at least one nosebleed by the time they are 5 years old.
Between the ages of 6 and 10, the frequency rises to 56 percent.
They're rare in infancy and infrequent during and after adolescence.
So as frightening as the sight of blood flowing from your child's nose may be, it's extremely common and almost never something truly serious.
Nosebleeds increase in the winter months when environmental humidity is relatively low and heating systems make homes dry.
Normally your family physician can help you understand and cope with them, without the need for a specialist.
By far, the most common cause of childhood nosebleeds is inflammation of the nasal mucosa from an upper respiratory infection.
Even so, if your child's nosebleeds are relentless in their frequency or difficult to control, request a referral to an otorynolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat doctor) to rule out possible serious causes.
Rare, Serious Causes of Nosebleeds in Children Nosebleed causes that a specialist can rule out include: · Thrombocytopenia, a condition in which the blood platelet count is low · Leukemia or HIV · Bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand's disease, hemophilia and Glanzmann's thrombastenia · Liver disease, severe vitamin K deficiency or malabsorption · Blood vessel disorders · Vitamin C deficiency · Tumors (very rare in children) How to Stop a Nosebleed Although nosebleeds usually stop on their own, here are several steps to take to stop them more quickly.
Help the child lean forward, instead of tipping his or her head backward.
Squeeze the soft tip of the nose closed with your fingers or a washcloth and keep it closed for 5-10 minutes.
Do not place wedge cotton, tissues or gauze up into your child's nose to stop a nosebleed.
Prevention Tips Take a look at your child's fingernails if he or she is prone to nosebleeds.
Ragged or sharp fingernails can cause nosebleeds when the child pokes them around inside the nose.
Obtain a humidifier for the child's bedroom and perhaps the whole house.
Vaseline gel inside the nostrils can also help keep the nose from being overly dry.
Between the ages of 6 and 10, the frequency rises to 56 percent.
They're rare in infancy and infrequent during and after adolescence.
So as frightening as the sight of blood flowing from your child's nose may be, it's extremely common and almost never something truly serious.
Nosebleeds increase in the winter months when environmental humidity is relatively low and heating systems make homes dry.
Normally your family physician can help you understand and cope with them, without the need for a specialist.
By far, the most common cause of childhood nosebleeds is inflammation of the nasal mucosa from an upper respiratory infection.
Even so, if your child's nosebleeds are relentless in their frequency or difficult to control, request a referral to an otorynolaryngologist (an ear, nose and throat doctor) to rule out possible serious causes.
Rare, Serious Causes of Nosebleeds in Children Nosebleed causes that a specialist can rule out include: · Thrombocytopenia, a condition in which the blood platelet count is low · Leukemia or HIV · Bleeding disorders, including von Willebrand's disease, hemophilia and Glanzmann's thrombastenia · Liver disease, severe vitamin K deficiency or malabsorption · Blood vessel disorders · Vitamin C deficiency · Tumors (very rare in children) How to Stop a Nosebleed Although nosebleeds usually stop on their own, here are several steps to take to stop them more quickly.
Help the child lean forward, instead of tipping his or her head backward.
Squeeze the soft tip of the nose closed with your fingers or a washcloth and keep it closed for 5-10 minutes.
Do not place wedge cotton, tissues or gauze up into your child's nose to stop a nosebleed.
Prevention Tips Take a look at your child's fingernails if he or she is prone to nosebleeds.
Ragged or sharp fingernails can cause nosebleeds when the child pokes them around inside the nose.
Obtain a humidifier for the child's bedroom and perhaps the whole house.
Vaseline gel inside the nostrils can also help keep the nose from being overly dry.
