A child's bloody nose often is more frightening than it is serious. The tiny, fragile vessels in the nose can gush a lot of blood, but they usually heal quickly and are a sign of nothing more than mild irritation. Even so, they occasionally be a sign of something serious, and even when they are not, there are ways of preventing them from reoccurring.
Identification
Unlike adults, for whom nosebleeds can begin deep inside the nose, a child's nosebleed almost always begins from the septum, the wall just inside the nose that separates the two nostrils, according to MayoClinic.com. The septum is full of tiny blood vessels just below the surface, and children can easily break these, which causes bleeding. Most of the time, nosebleeds, called epistaxis in medical terminology, start from a single nostril, according to Nicole Green of the Denver area Children's Hospital. Children with nosebleeds usually feel only minor discomfort, not severe pain.
Causes
Bloody noses often occur during warm, dry weather, which makes the septum's blood vessel more susceptible to rupture, according to the Victoria Department of Human Services. Your child might burst the vessels by picking his nose or by sticking something hard up his nose. If he has a cold or allergies, frequent nose-blowing can cause a nosebleed. Sinus infections and certain anti-inflammatory medications also can make your child more susceptible to nosebleeds. Injuries to the nose, such as during sports or play, can cause nosebleeds, and these might be a more serious problem.
Treatment
You can treat many nosebleeds at home, according to the St. Louis Children's Hospital. Pinching the child's nose firmly for five to 10 minutes, without letting go, often will stop the bleeding. You might have to calm your child first if she is frightened, as crying can make a nosebleed worse. Keeping your child upright, leaning slightly forward, will help her avoid swallowing blood. An icepack applied to the nose's bridge also can help it heal. For nosebleeds you cannot heal at home, doctors can stop the bleeding by applying an ointment, cauterizing the blood vessel or packing the nose with gauze.
Warning
While most nosebleeds are minor, you should seek medical help for the child immediately if the bleeding lasts for more than 20 minutes or if the bleeding occurs after a fall or injury, as this could be a symptom of a broken nose, according to MayoClinic.com. Additionally, St. Louis Children's Hospital recommends medical treatment if the child feels dizzy, has trouble breathing or is bleeding from anywhere else on the body. Rarely, frequent nosebleeds can indicate another medical problem, such as a tumor, according to the Victoria Department of Human Services.
Prevention
If your child is prone to frequent nosebleeds, you can prevent them by keeping his septum lubricated. St. Louis Children's Hospital recommends running a cool mist humidifier in your child's room at night during dry times, particularly when using heat or air conditioning. Applying petroleum jelly or a saline solution in your child's nose can keep it moist. Additionally, your child's doctor can treat nasal allergies, which in turn will lower the frequency of nosebleeds.
