Nosebleeds in children: the causes of epistaxis and what to do in case of bleeding
Loss of nosebleeds in children is a frequent situation, which in most cases should not worry the parents and resolves in a short time. Nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, mainly affect children between the ages of 2 and 10 and, although the blood may seem a lot, it shouldn't scare: they are rare in cases where it is necessary to take the child to the emergency room!
The causes of nosebleeds in children can be many and different: they range from putting too much fingers in the nose going to tease the fragile capillaries, to the low humidity of the surrounding environment. Only rarely does epistaxis have anything to do with it. see with serious health problems ... Let's analyze together, then, what can be the causes of bleeding from the nose and what to do (and not to do) if it happens to your child.
What are the main causes of nosebleed in babies?
The inner wall of a baby's nose, in its front part, is filled with very fragile blood vessels (also called "capillaries"), which can easily rupture, causing bleeding or blood loss. The baby simply puts his fingers. into the nose with some insistence so that the blood vessels break and the inner wall begins to bleed.This can also happen simply by blowing the nose too hard.
The leakage of blood is favored, among other causes, by severe cold or allergies, or by the presence of a foreign body in the nose. Poor humidity in the surrounding environment can also lead to nosebleeds, as can excessive exposure to the sun or heat.
Among the other causes we find, of course, the occurrence of trauma (from a simple rubbing to more serious injuries such as a fracture of the nasal septum), the intake of certain drugs (especially anti-inflammatory or nasal sprays), excessive effort during the evacuation It is no coincidence that nosebleeds are common in children suffering from constipation.
Fortunately, nosebleed is a symptom of more serious health problems, due to systemic factors, in very rare cases. If it occurs frequently and without being associated with any of the factors listed above, it is best to consult your doctor. confidence.
What to do in case of nosebleeds?
According to the guidelines reported by the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital, the most important thing to do in case of a nosebleed in children is to remain calm and reassure the child, who could be very frightened by the sight of blood. it's nothing major and it will pass soon!
Then make sure to keep the baby in a sitting or standing position, preventing him from lying down. Have him tilt his head slightly forward to prevent the blood from being swallowed or inhaled and hold the soft part of his nostrils between thumb and forefinger (or have him hold, if the child is not too small) for about ten minutes. .
After about ten minutes, check that the blood has stopped. If the bleeding continues, hold again for another ten minutes. Putting a cool towel or ice in the root of the nose may help.
If the baby has blood in his mouth, make him spit it out so he won't swallow it, which could cause him to vomit. Then have him drink something cold or eat a popsicle to remove the flavor and try to distract him so he can completely calm down. Do not let him eat hot drinks or foods, or give him a hot bath for 24 hours.
What not to do in case of nasal bleeding and how to prevent it?
If your baby has a nosebleed, don't panic and try to calm him down. Be careful, as already mentioned, not to make him lie down and not to make him tilt his head back too much. Avoid sticking hemostatic cotton or other types of gauze in their nose to stop the flow - just hold down with your fingers! Finally, remember not to clean your nose with hot water.
To prevent epitaxis, however, always remember to humidify the rooms, wash your baby's nose regularly with a saline solution, avoid excessive use of nasal sprays and, above all, teach him not to pick his nose!
When is it good to go to the emergency room?
As we have anticipated, in most cases the nosebleed does not require medical intervention or a rush to the emergency room. These solutions may only be necessary if the nosebleed does not stop or if the episodes are very frequent.
Also be careful if the child is under the age of two or if he is strangely pale or unconscious.
For more scientific information on nosebleeds in children, you can consult the website of the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital.
