Nosebleeds are common. One in seven people will experience at least one nosebleed at some point, especially children under 10 and adults over 50, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. A bloody nose typically originates from the anterior nose, between the nostrils. Posterior nosebleeds, originating deep within the nose, are much less common, and usually have a more serious cause.
Local Trauma to the Nasal Lining
The mucous membrane that lines the nose has a rich blood supply and is easily damaged. A common cause of nosebleeds is dehydrated nasal tissue from dry air that occurs during the winter months or in arid climates, resulting in crusting, cracking and bleeding. Another common cause is blowing or picking the nose, according to the Merck Manual Online Medical Library. Nosebleeds from these causes usually begin with blood trickling from one nostril when a person is sitting or standing. A light coating of petroleum jelly rubbed inside the nostrils with a fingertip can help to prevent bleeding from dryness and local trauma, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
Foreign Objects
As part of the self-exploration of the body, a curious child may insert a foreign object in the nose. Beans, food, seeds, small toys, beads, erasers and crayon pieces are common items found blocking a child's nose. A bloody nose may indicate a foreign object. Other signs include difficulty breathing, malodorous discharge from one nostril, irritability, and complaints of pain or irritation in the nose. Sedatives may be given to calm the child when the object is removed by a physician, and antibiotics may be prescribed afterward if infection is suspected, according to Drugs.com.
Bleeding Disorders
Bleeding disorders affect the blood's ability to clot. Idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, or ITP, is a serious cause of a bleeding nose. ITP, which results when the immune system attacks the platelets, can develop after a child has a viral illness, as a March 8, 2010, article in "The New York Times" explains. The platelets are a type of cell that is necessary for blood clotting. A nosebleed from ITP can be severe and uncontrolled, and is often accompanied by symptoms such as bleeding gums, easy bruising and purple dots on the skin caused by broken blood vessels. Other causes of serious nosebleeds related to a decreased ability of blood to clot include von Willebrand disease and hemophilia.
