Epistaxis is a medical condition also known as a nosebleed. Your child likely experiences this uncomfortable condition from time to time due to his active lifestyle or frequent colds, according to Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, an author and professor of pediatrics at McGill University on his health website, DrPaul.com. While most nosebleeds are not cause for concern, severe nosebleeds require regular preventive care or medical intervention.
Significance
Because children are prone to picking at their nose, nosebleeds can be a common occurrence in children. The occasional nosebleed is not a cause for concern, according to Ask Dr. Sears. However, when nosebleeds begin to occur weekly or even several times per week, this is considered to be a chronic and severe condition. These nosebleeds may have more blood because the lining of the nose is severely irritated.
Causes
Nosebleeds in children can be caused by a number of factors. Children are more prone to nose picking that irritates the blood vessels, according to Ask Dr. Sears. Other factors, such as injury, a cold, breathing in dry air, a bacterial infection or a blood clotting condition all cause nosebleeds in children. However, severe nosebleeds are chiefly attributed to irritation in the nose lining that does not heal over time.
Prevention
Children who experience severe and/or recurrent nosebleeds should take regular precautions in order to prevent nosebleeds or reduce their severity. These include keeping the nose moist through applying petroleum jelly or a lanolin moisturizer to the nasal lining, according to Ask Dr. Sears. Using a vaporizer also can help to keep the air your child breathes in moist.
Solution
When your child experiences a nosebleed, try to keep her calm, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Have your child sit and lean forward. Using your thumb and index finger, squeeze the area of your child's nose where the bony portion meets the fleshy portion. Hold this until your child's nosebleed ceases. This typically takes between 5 and 10 minutes. In some instances, your physician may need to cauterize---which uses a heated tool to seal the veins---your child's blood vessels in the nose.
Warning
Although severe nosebleeds are a nuisance and can be worrisome when your child experiences them, most nosebleeds are not medically life-threatening. However, some symptoms can be an indicator of a more serious condition, according to Ask Dr. Sears. These include when your child experiences a nosebleed accompanied by a severe headache---children with these symptoms may be suffering from high blood pressure. If your child's nosebleed is accompanied by unexplained bruising or severe bleeding from the gums, this can be a sign of a severe condition---seek emergency treatment immediately.
