MY CHILD HAS BEEN HAVING NOSE BLEED EPISODES

Nose bleed is a common issue in children. It can be dramatic but not usually serious. Nose bleed can originate from anterior nose, means the bleeding occurs in the front, soft part of the nose. Posterior nosebleeds develop in the rear of the nose and rarely occur in children.

Anterior nose contains many small blood vessels  or capillaries that can easily rupture and bleed due to variety of cause.

Posterior nosebleed tends to be heavier and fortunately rarely occur in children

Common Causes of Nose bleed in Children

Small blood vessels anterior nose can be injured or ruptured easily by these causes

• Dry air
• Picking the nose
• Nasal allergies
• Trauma to the nose or face
• Sinusitis, common colds and other infections that affect the nasal passages

And Less Common Causes of nosebleeds in children include:

• Bleeding or blood clotting, such as haemophilia
• Certain medications, including blood thinners (Warfarin, aspirin) or prolong unnecessary use of intranasal spray (steroid containing)
• Malignancy like leukaemia
• Nasal polyps (benign intranasal growth)

How to treat your child’s nosebleeds

Parents are advised to allow these steps to stop a nosebleed (don’t get panicked)

1. Keep your child upright and gently tilt their head forward slightly. Leaning the head back could cause blood to trickle down the throat and it can make your child cough, gag, or even vomit. 
2. Then pinch the soft part of the nose while telling your child breathe through their mouth while you (or the child) do this.
3. You can also apply ice around the nose bridge, which will reduce blood flow (thus reduce bleeding)
4. Try to maintain either manoeuvre for about 10 minutes. Stopping too early may make your child’s nose begin bleeding again.
5. Frequent nosebleeds, moisturize the lining of the nose may help reduce recurrence .

• using nasal saline sprayed into both nostrils and this can be applied a few times a day. Many Saline nasal spray is available over the counter but parents must check for the strength of the spray jet as not to cause discomfort during application.
• rubbing an emollient like into the nostrils few times a day.
• using a vaporizer or air moisturizer to add moisture to the air regardless of the odour of the vaporizer.
• keeping your child’s nails trimmed to reduce scratches and irritations from nose picking