Video:Treating a Nosebleed

Transcript:Treating a Nosebleed

Hi I'm Dr. Danelle Fisher, Board Certified Pediatrician with www.WestchesterPeds.com and I'm here today for About.com to talk to you about treating nosebleeds in children.

Information About Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are a common occurrence in childhood. Most nosebleeds will resolve promptly with proper treatment. Let's talk about the causes of nosebleeds and how to treat them. Nosebleeds are often caused by trauma from an external source, such as a blow to the nose or internal trauma, such as picking the nose. Other causes include colds or sinus infections, chronic allergies, extremely dry air, bleeding disorders or an abnormal anatomical structure in the nose.

Frequent Nosebleeds

If the frequency of nosebleeds becomes excessive or leads to anemia or other problems, then the child needs a visit to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist.

Stopping a Nosebleed

What should you do when your child's nose starts bleeding? Keep the child sitting upright and leaning forward. Leaning back or lying down could cause the child to swallow blood, which can lead to nausea and vomiting. Apply firm pressure with the fingertips on the nose, below the bone but above the nostrils. You can use a tissue or towel to help keep the nostrils closed. Apply constant pressure for 5-10 minutes. This can seem like a long time so find an activity like singing a song, reading a book or watching television to distract the child. If the bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes, repeat for another cycle.

Other Ways to Conquer a Nosebleed or Control the Bleeding

If the nose continues to bleed actively for more than 20-30 minutes, call your pediatrician. Try applying ice to the nose or the face while holding the nose. Some people think that this helps the blood to clot while others think it is not helpful. If trauma caused the nosebleed, then ice will help to decrease subsequent swelling.

Tips for Preventing Future Nosebleeds

Once the nose has stopped bleeding, make sure the child does not blow or pick his or her nose for 24 hours, or else the bleeding could start again. Also, do not use packing, tissue or gauze inside the nose, unless applied by a medical professional. You can prevent bloody noses by making sure the air at home is humidified if the climate is particularly dry. Other prevention includes the use of saline drops in the nose or Vaseline on the nostrils, which helps moisturize the nasal passages. Last but not least, tell your child not to pick his or her nose.

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