Seeing blood pouring out of your child's nose can be frightening, but nosebleeds aren't usually a cause for concern. They're actually quite common in children between ages 3 and 10, and they're easy to treat at home, according to KidsHealth, part of the Nemours Foundation. However, in rare cases, nosebleeds require medical attention, so it's important to know when you should get in touch with a doctor.
Causes
A child who picks her nose may get nosebleeds, because the picking irritates the nose and makes blood vessels more exposed to getting scratched open, according to pediatric health website AskDrSears.com. Other common causes of nosebleeds are trauma due to getting struck in the nose, nasal irritation and congestion, dry air and bacterial infections. In rare cases, nosebleeds may be a symptom of a blood clotting problem, but the likelihood is so slim that you shouldn't be concerned unless your doctor thinks he should test your child, says AskDrSears.com.
What to Do
If your child has a nosebleed, remain calm and reassure him that the bleeding isn't a big deal. Keep him sitting upright and tilt his head slightly forward to prevent him from swallowing blood. Then, using a tissue or washcloth, gently pinch his nose right below the bony ridge, says KidsHealth. Hold this pressure for about 10 minutes and consider applying a wrapped ice pack to the area. When the bleeding has stopped, ask your child to rest for a while and discourage him from touching or blowing his nose, suggests KidsHealth.
Prevention
Since you can't always be around to prevent your child from picking her nose, trim her nails regularly to reduce the likelihood that her nails will scratch the inside of her nose, suggests KidsHealth. If you believe that air dryness is the culprit, use a cool mist humidifier or vaporizer in your home and use saline nasal spray or dab some petroleum jelly in the opening of her nostrils. Buy your child the proper protective equipment if she commonly gets nosebleeds due to playing aggressive sports with her friends.
Treatment for Recurrent Nosebleeds
Don't worry if your child gets nosebleeds a few times every year, but do consult your doctor if the bleeding happens a few times a week, says AskDrSears.com. Recurrent nosebleeds occur when the nasal lining is chronically irritated and its blood vessels are exposed. The doctor may decide to use special equipment to cauterize, or burn, a blood vessel that is causing persistent nosebleeds, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Emergency Care
Consult your doctor as soon as possible if your child has a severe nosebleed in addition to a severe headache, as it might be a sign of high blood pressure, according to AskDrSears.com. Another cause for concern is a nosebleed in addition to other unusual areas of bruising or bleeding, such as blood in the urine and gums or bruising all over the body, says AskDrSears.com. Also, get help immediately if your child's nosebleed lasts for over 20 minutes or if has followed an accident such as a fall or an injury to his head, says the Mayo Clinic.
