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The information provided by The Pediatric Group, PLLC website is information of a general nature and is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be relied on for personal medical reasons and should not be relied upon as providing specific medical advice or for diagnosis or treatment. All information contained on this website is presented as is, without any warranties of any kind, express or implied.
Please note that visiting this website alone does not establish a physician-patient relationship with any physician engaged by The Pediatric Group, PLLC. You should consult your own physician for specific advice for your own personal situation.
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Nosebleed Definition: Nosebleeds (also known as epistaxis)
are fairly common, especially in children, and can be easily treated.
They
usually happen as a result of a minor injury caused by nose picking or
a blow to the nose. They may also result from infection of the mucous
membrane (the moist lining of the nose) that causes drying and
crusting.
During a nosebleed, blood comes out of the nose. The flow of blood may
be heavy or light and the nosebleed may last for a few seconds or over
ten minutes. Nosebleeds can also happen when your child is
asleep. Most routine nosebleeds can be treated successfully at
home.
Although hardly ever serious, nosebleeds can occasionally be life
threatening, particularly in older people. They are more common in
people taking aspirin, anticoagulants (blood-thinning drugs) or people
with blood disorders. Children under one year of age hardly ever
have self-induced nosebleeds.
Treatment:
- Apply Pressure: Firmly pinch
together the soft lower parts of the nose against the septum (the
center
wall between the two nose openings) for 10 minutes. Tell your
child to
breathe through his mouth. The goal is to apply
continuous pressure to the bleeding point. If the bleeding
continues, move your point of pressure slightly until bleeding slows or
stops. Have your child hold a
basin and lean forward to spit out any blood.
- Nose Drops: If the bleeding does
not stop from applying pressure, put some decongestant nose drops (like
Afrin® nasal spray, which does not require a
prescription) on a gauze pad. If you do not
have a nasal decongestant, you can use petroleum jelly (like
Vaseline®). Roll the gauze pad into a
small tube and insert it carefully into your child’s nostril(s).
Repeat the process of applying pressure as described
above.
- What Next? More than 99% of nosebleeds will
stop following 10 minutes of direct pressure if you
are pressing on the right spot. If bleeding has not stopped after
20 minutes of correctly applied direct pressure,
contact our office (during regular office hours). After hours,
call our night-time Nurse Triage service at
330-7566. While waiting for a return call, continue to apply
pressure.
- Myths: Holding a cold washcloth
or an ice pack to the forehead, back of the neck, or under the upper
lip will not help stop a nosebleed, although this may
provide comfort to a frightened child.
- If your child has fainted or is too weak to stand,
she may have lost a large amount of blood. In
that case, call 911 emergency services. This
is not a usual
outcome of a mild nosebleed. Almost
all nosebleeds will resolve with direct pressure if
applied correctly.
- Prevention: To prevent drying
and irritation of the mucous membranes when the humidity is lowest
(especially during winter months), it may be
helpful to put a small amount of petroleum jelly on
the center wall of the inside of the nose (septum). A cool mist
humidifier used at night in your child’s room could
help as well.
- If your child suffers from frequent, hard-to-stop
nosebleeds: Contact our office during regular
office hours for an appointment.
Reference: The National Health Service of the United
Kingdom
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