Nosebleeds in Children

The occurrence of nosebleeds in children could be a scary site for any mother. However, there is no need to panic or worry about it. Following the necessary guidelines would help in minimizing the problem. It is important to understand the various causes of nosebleeds in advance. The Hasselbach's plexus, a collection of blood vessels gets ruptured and results into spontaneous nosebleeding in children.

What is a Nosebleed?
The nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, is the hemorrhage that takes place in the nose and could be of two types i.e., anterior and posterior. The anterior type of hemorrhage is common while the posterior one requires medical attention. In the anterior type of nosebleeding, the blood vessel present in the nasal septum is ruptured which results into hemorrhage. Almost 90% of the nosebleeding cases are that of anterior nosebleeds. The posterior type of nosebleed occurs in elders and the origin of this bleeding is the artery that is present at the back of the nose.

Causes of Nosebleeds in Children
The different causes of nosebleeds in children can be classified as local and systemic. Blunt trauma, inflammatory reactions and the influence of foreign bodies are the local factors responsible for nosebleeds. Nose picking is also one of the primary causes of nosebleeds in children. The most common systemic factors which cause nosebleeds are:

• High blood pressure
• Allergies
• Infectious diseases
• Common cold
• Strep throat

Generally, nosebleeds occur during a certain period of time in a year. However, if the bleeding recurs every week, parents should take serious note of such chronic nosebleeds in children and immediately consult a physician. Frequent nosebleeds in children take place if the lining of the inner wall of the nose is irritated and the blood vessels are exposed. The possibility of the nasal septum (cartilage that divides the nose in two sections) being hurt is the most common cause behind bleeding. The blood vessels present in the nasal region are formed of cells that are lined side by side and they dilate when inflamed. A gap is created between the cells because of dilation. Any increase in the blood pressure results into hemorrhage. When a person is standing in a reclining position, pressure on these cells increase and the chances of them getting ruptured are high. Read more on nosebleeding causes.

How to Stop Nosebleeds?
The immediate measures for treating nosebleeds in children is to stop the flow of blood by applying direct pressure and placing a cotton wad near the nostrils. Applying ice for 10 minutes is also one of the effective measures that is used to stop bleeding. In order to prevent sneezing and thereby loosening the clot, the child should be advised to breathe through his mouth temporarily. Applying ice at the bridge of the nose also works in favor of decreasing the blood flow. The child should be made to lie down while tilting the head back. The phenylephrine hydrochloride solution spray, which is a decongestant, helps in shrinking the blood vessels of the nose and thereby preventing the blood flow for about 10 minutes. For the treatment of recurrent nosebleeds, one can use moisturizers and ointments which help in the lubrication of the nose. The 'nasal saline mist' should be used to spray 2-3 times on a daily basis. Antibiotic ointments should be used for application to the sore areas inside the nose. The exposed blood vessels could be cauterized for the treatment of nosebleeds. It helps in reducing the chances of a nosebleed. People suffering from hemophilia and kidney diseases should be careful and show promptness while dealing with nosebleeds because, these problems affect the process of blood clotting.

It is necessary to take the desired steps to prevent nosebleeds in children however, there is no need to panic and create an issue over the rupturing of blood vessels in the nasal septum.