
Also tell your child not to pick their nose. Home’s humidity at a level high enough to prevent nasal drying. In addition, a humidifier or vaporizer will help maintain your Doing so may be particularly helpful if you live in a very dry climate, or when the furnace is on. If your child gets a lot of nosebleeds, ask your pediatrician about using saltwater (saline) nose drops every day. If a blood vessel is causing the problem, the doctor may touch that point with a chemical substance (silver nitrate) to stop the bleeding. This may mean he has a small, easily broken blood vessel in the nose or on the surface of the lining of the nose, or a growth in the nasal passages. He has a lot of nosebleeds, along with a chronically stuffy nose. Call your pediatrician immediately in this case, and arrange to get your child to the emergency room. Your child is unusually pale or sweaty, or is not responsive. The bleeding is coming only from your child’s mouth, or he’s coughing or vomiting blood or brown material that looks like coffee grounds. (But keep in mind that the blood coming from the nose always looks like a lot.) You think your child may have lost too much blood or continues to bleed heavily. Stuff tissues, gauze, or any other material into your child’s nose to stop the bleeding. Have them lie down or tilt back their head. If after 10 more minutes of pressure the bleeding hasn’t stopped, call your pediatrician or go to the nearest emergency department. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped, hold pressure again. Release the pressure after 10 minutes and wait, keeping your child quiet and still. Don’t release the nose during this time to see if it is still bleeding (no peeking)! Stopping the pressure may interfere with the forming of the clot and allow the bleeding to continue. If your child is old enough, they can do this themselves. Pinch the lower half of your child’s nose (the soft part) between your thumb and finger and hold it firmly for at least 10 minutes. Keep your child in a sitting or standing position. A nosebleed can be frightening, but is rarely serious.
NOSEBLEED AND COUGHING UP BLOOD HOW TO
There are many misconceptions and folktales about how to treat nosebleeds. Blood diseases, such as hemophilia, also can provoke and worsen nosebleeds.Ĭhronic illness: Any child with a long-term illness, or who may require extra oxygen or other medication that can dry out or affect the lining of the nose, is likely to have nosebleeds. Medications, even common ones like ibuprofen, can alter blood-clotting just enough to cause bleeding. Although most of these growths (usually polyps) are benign (not cancerous), they still should be treated promptly.Ībnormal blood clotting: Anything that interferes with blood clotting can lead to nosebleeds.

If they are frequently exposed to toxic fumes (fortunately, an unusual occurrence), they may get nosebleeds, too.Īnatomical problems: Any abnormal structure inside the nose can lead to crusting and bleeding.Ībnormal growths: Any abnormal tissue growing in the nose may cause bleeding. Low humidity or irritating fumes: If your house is very dry, or if you live in a dry climate, the lining of your child’s nose may dry out. A nosebleed also can occur if they are hit in the nose by a ball or other object, of fall and hit their nose. Trauma: A child can get a nosebleed from picking their nose, putting something into it, or just blowing it too hard. Beginning with the most common, they include:Ĭolds and allergies: A cold or allergy causes swelling and irritation inside the nose and may lead to spontaneous bleeding.


There are many causes of nosebleeds, most of which aren’t serious. If blood flows down from the back of the nose into the mouth and throat, your child may swallow a great deal of it, which in turn may cause vomiting. This is neither abnormal nor dangerous, but it can be very frightening. Your child is almost certain to have at least one nosebleed-and probably many-during their early years.
