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Nosebleeds in a 4 year old child. Why does a child have nosebleeds? Causes of nosebleeds in children - let’s figure out why the child’s nose started bleeding

Nosebleeds often occur in childhood as a result of injuries, inflammatory processes and the presence of a foreign body in the organ. Parents should know how to properly provide first aid to their child and avoid dangerous complications.

Nosebleeds are not as harmless as they might seem at first glance. With excessive blood loss, severe weakness, tinnitus, dizziness and increased heart rate appear. The child may lose consciousness, so he needs emergency medical care as soon as possible.

Experts identify two types of bleeding that can occur in children:

  1. Bleeding from the anterior nasopharynx. With this pathological condition, damage to blood vessels is observed, which are localized directly on the nasal septum.
  2. Bleeding from the back of the nose. With this pathological condition, the circulating fluid flows inward rather than outward. Bleeding from the nose occurs when large vessels that are located deep in the nasal cavity are damaged.

Posterior bleeding is considered quite life-threatening for the child, since it does not stop on its own, and the child needs emergency medical care.

A common cause of bleeding is excessive blood supply to the nasal cavity. The fact is that in children the mucous membrane of the organ is too sensitive to various external influences, so any minor damage can cause a dangerous symptom.

Frequent bleeding, even with a slight release of blood, requires mandatory examination of the child. In such a situation, anemia should be excluded and a study of blood clotting rate should be performed. If the rate is below standard values, it is recommended to visit a hematologist. In addition, it is necessary to measure the child’s blood pressure and check the functioning of the kidneys and liver.

Local or systemic causes of bleeding?

When nosebleeds occur, a violation of the integrity of blood vessels localized in the mucous membrane of the organ occurs. Experts divide all the reasons that can provoke pathology into two groups: local and systemic.

In childhood, nosebleeds can occur under the influence of the following local factors:


In addition, in childhood, nosebleeds may appear in the following cases:

  • too dry air in the children's room;
  • using nasal sprays to treat a runny nose;
  • surgical intervention;

When local factors influence the child’s body, bleeding usually develops only from the right or left nostril.

Among the systemic causes that can provoke bleeding from the nasal cavity are:


It is important to identify the cause that provoked the appearance of nosebleeds in a child. The fact is that a small child is not yet able to explain to adults what is happening to him. Severe and frequent bleeding is a rather dangerous pathological condition, so it is necessary to show the baby to a doctor.

First aid for nosebleeds

Nosebleeds must be stopped as quickly as possible, so parents should:

  • calm the child and distract him with a toy;
  • ask to breathe evenly and deeply, which will slow down the speed of blood flow;
  • sit the child down or place him in a semi-sitting position, slightly tilting his head down;
  • unfasten the collar and open the window, which will provide access to fresh air;
  • put cold on the nose and bridge of the nose, which will narrow the vessels of the nasal mucosa.

If the child’s bleeding is not severe, then you need to press the wing of the nose against the septum with your finger and apply an ice pack. If the bleeding lasts too long, a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide should be inserted into the child's nose. If after 10-15 minutes you cannot cope with the problem, then you need to take the child to the emergency room.

If the baby is between 0 and 1 year old

A common cause of nasal discharge in infants is too dry air in the child's room. In addition, the cause of this unpleasant phenomenon can be high air temperature. Often young parents are afraid of overcooling their child and refuse to ventilate the room daily. In such a situation, the nasal mucosa dries out greatly and the fragility of blood vessels increases.

Most often, in children under one year of age, bleeding begins to bleed after prolonged sleep, as well as when sneezing and coughing. It is possible to eliminate this unpleasant symptom by simply ventilating the room and maintaining the required air humidity.

Sometimes a copious amount of blood is released from the child’s nasal cavity, and this situation repeats quite often.

The child should be shown to a doctor and the following should be excluded:

  • various blood diseases;
  • disturbances in the formation of mucosal vessels;
  • the presence of any growths in the nose.

In addition, blood may appear during the nasal cleansing procedure. This usually happens when the mother cleans it too thoroughly, which can cause significant damage to the mucous membrane.

Treatment Methods and Options

If nosebleeds from the anterior region are too frequent, a treatment method such as cauterization of the damaged vessel with liquid nitrogen, laser or electric current can be used.

If there is bleeding from the posterior nasal cavity, posterior tamponade may be performed. In addition, the following hemostatic agents may be prescribed:

  • Vikasol;
  • Sodium ethamsylate.

For therapeutic and preventive purposes, it is necessary to take Ascorutin, calcium supplements and vitamin A. In case of heavy blood loss, intravenous solutions are administered to restore the volume of circulating blood.

What not to do if you have a nosebleed

If there is blood coming from the nose, it is under no circumstances allowed to tilt the child's head back. The fact is that the liquid will flow into the larynx along the back wall of the nasopharynx. After this, it may enter the respiratory system or stomach. The consequences of such a pathological condition can be respiratory failure, coughing, vomiting with blood and bronchospasm.

If there is severe bleeding, it is not allowed to put the child on a pillow; you need to talk to him as little as possible. In addition, there is no need to blow your nose, as this will further increase the flow of blood from the organ.

If your child has frequent nosebleeds

If nosebleeds are too frequent, it is necessary to show the child to specialists such as an otolaryngologist, therapist and hematologist. In addition, you need to undergo a thorough examination, which includes a detailed blood test, measurement of blood and intracranial pressure, as well as determination of the blood clotting period.

After the examination, in the absence of any deviations from the norm, the doctor recommends:

  • taking medications that help strengthen blood vessels;
  • fill the child’s diet with products containing ascorbic acid;
  • strict adherence to the daily routine;
  • walk in the fresh air as much as possible;
  • moisturize the nasal mucosa.

A bloody nose can be a sign of anemia, which is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin. A dangerous sign is the formation of red dots on the nose.

Prevention

If a child experiences nosebleeds, for prevention purposes it is necessary to:

  • review the child’s diet and fill it with vegetables, fruits, cottage cheese and other foods with sufficient vitamin content;
  • wean your child from such a bad habit as picking his nose;
  • during the heating season you should use a humidifier;
  • If you have a runny nose, do not abuse vasoconstrictor medications;
  • Ventilate the room as often as possible.

If nosebleeds are too frequent, you should not ignore the symptom, because it can be a sign of dangerous pathologies.

The main principle of Dr. Komarovsky’s work is to treat not the symptom, but its cause. He believes that it is necessary to start looking for the cause in a child with external factors affecting the body. Most often, pathology manifests itself when the air is too dry, improper care of the child, unreasonable use of medications and heat stroke. As soon as external irritants are eliminated, the bleeding stops and does not appear again.

Nosebleeds (epistaxis) in a child is a pathology that can frighten not only the baby himself, but also the parents. Basically, this condition does not cause concern, but there are serious situations. Every mother should have an idea of ​​why a child’s nose bleeds, the reasons that provoked the problem, and situations in which it is necessary to urgently go to the hospital.

If a child is bleeding from the nose, then immediately determining the true cause of the pathology is problematic. We need diagnostics and tests, and this takes time. Among the most common reasons, Dr. Komarovsky identifies several:

  1. Injury to the nasal mucosa. The inner lining of the nose in children is very delicate, with many fragile blood vessels. The nose may bleed if you blow your nose too much, sneeze, pick, or in cases of dry mucous membranes. Epistaxis can also be triggered by injury when foreign objects are inserted into the nose, which also often happens in children.
  2. Blood pressure can increase not only in adults, but also in children. This often ends in vascular damage and bleeding.
  3. Problems with the vascular network of the nasal cavity. Due to the innate structural features of blood vessels, they can be easily injured. Spontaneous nosebleeds may also occur.
  4. Some viruses and bacteria (influenza, measles, scarlet fever) provoke inflammation of the mucous membrane and, as a result, nosebleeds often occur.
  5. The appearance of epistaxis in some cases warns of the presence of some serious disease, both hereditary and acquired. We are talking about hemophilia, thrombocytopathy, vasculitis, lupus. All of these pathologies can have a negative impact on the ability of blood to clot. Anemia, leukemia, hepatitis, hypovitaminosis can provoke periodically recurring bleeding.
  6. Neoplasms in the nose (benign and malignant). Such pathologies, with proper treatment, resolve and go away, but sometimes they grow and provoke blood flow.
  7. Dysfunction of the liver, bone marrow and other organs.
  8. Allergic runny nose.
  9. Bleeding can be a consequence of sunstroke or heatstroke, as well as hypothermia.
  10. Girls during puberty may suddenly develop nosebleeds. This is explained by the fact that the production of sex hormones estrogen and progesterone increases. The vessels fill with blood, which leads to swelling of the mucous membrane, its thinning and bleeding.

The causes of epistaxis are determined by the doctor after a thorough examination. Parents can only guess what caused such a reaction.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of the pathology is the appearance of blood discharge from one nostril, less often from both. If the bleeding is not strong, other signs do not appear. But with heavy discharge and with certain pathologies affecting internal organs, additional ailments may be added, in particular:

  • weakness, dizziness, tinnitus;
  • tachycardia, shortness of breath;
  • pale skin.

There are situations when just a little bit of blood comes out of a child’s nose, but the baby’s general condition worsens. Most likely, part of it enters the esophagus and stomach, flowing down the back wall of the nasopharynx. In this case, bloody vomiting is possible.

Distinctive signs of dangerous nosebleeds

The most dangerous are bleedings that open at night. Such reactions are the result of the most unexpected factors. These include allergic manifestations and increased intracranial pressure. If blood flows from the nose during sleep, then it is possible that drops with a vasoconstrictor effect have recently been used uncontrollably. You will have to stop using them and watch whether this reaction happens again or not.

If epistaxis occurs mainly in the morning, it is recommended to be examined for polyps. In addition, this condition can occur in the case of the development of chronic physical or emotional fatigue in the child.

Scarlet or foamy blood occurs if the lung is damaged. A dark, close to brown color warns of problems with the stomach or esophagus. Blood released along with mucus or clots is a symptom of complications of diseases of the ENT organs.

Important! Short-term, severe bleeding, when fluid begins to flow from the nose in a stream, is a sign indicating that a large vessel is damaged, or a malignant neoplasm has appeared in the nasal cavity or a nearby area.

With severe nosebleeds, the child may immediately lose consciousness. Epistaxis may be complicated by nausea and vomiting. Incorrectly provided first aid often leads to unexpected consequences. For example, blood can enter the nasolacrimal duct, and scarlet liquid begins to flow from the eyes. Although this phenomenon is rare, it will scare everyone.

Important! Blood flowing from both nostrils at the same time and not stopping for 10 minutes is a serious reason for concern. You don’t need to waste time, you need to call an ambulance.

First aid

Every parent should have information on what to do if their baby develops a nosebleed.

What do we have to doWhat not to do
The child must be seated so that the head is level or slightly tilted forwardAvoid throwing your head back, otherwise blood will begin to flow into the esophagus and the general condition will be aggravated by nausea and vomiting.
If the problem occurs at night, the child should be woken up and seated in an upright positionDo not take a lying or reclining position
Unfasten the collar, loosen the fasteners, open the window - the patient needs fresh airPrevent fresh air from entering
Calm the child, distract him with a toy or conversationpanic
Make sure that the baby is calm and does not make sudden movements.Active movement, conversations
A cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide is inserted into the nostril and left for 10 minutes.Insert a cotton swab deeply into the nasal passage
Place a cold object on the bridge of the noseYou should not blow your nose during this period; such actions will interfere with the process of stopping the bleeding.

For a one-year-old child, the set of measures will be similar. If such actions do not help stop the flow of blood from the nose, you should immediately go to the hospital.

Only a pediatric otolaryngologist can determine the type of bleeding using rhinoscopy and pharyngoscopy. Solving the problem does not end with stopping the bleeding. Now we need to determine exactly what reasons caused such a reaction.

To do this, the child must undergo an examination, which includes:

  • general blood analysis;
  • consultation with specialized specialists (immunologist, oncologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, hematologist);
  • If necessary, a skull x-ray may be prescribed.

A set of diagnostic measures will help to establish the root cause of the pathology and determine further therapy.

Treatment

Epistaxis at the first aid stage may require drug therapy. The doctor prescribes drugs that can stop bleeding. Medicines may be prescribed to reduce capillary fragility and permeability. Subsequent treatment of the disease directly depends on what caused the pathological condition.

If the bleeding was caused by a foreign body in the nasal area, then you should not try to get it out yourself, this can only worsen the situation. You need to entrust the baby to a doctor who can quickly deal with the problem in a hospital or outpatient clinic. If the patient has lost a lot of blood, a transfusion may be required.

Nosebleeds in a child are not always a sign of dangerous diseases. Don't panic ahead of time. It is important to be able to properly provide first aid and stop the bleeding. After this, contact a doctor who, after certain diagnostic measures, will prescribe treatment, if necessary.

Nosebleeds can have completely harmless causes. But they can also hide very serious diseases. We will try to understand the reasons and when you should immediately seek medical help in this article.

Bleeding always looks scary. This is especially true for bleeding in children. The most harmless, according to medicine, are nosebleeds. But, even in this case, one must not lose vigilance, because frequent and abundant discharge of blood from the nose may indicate health problems in the child.

Why does my child have nosebleeds at night?

Night bleeding from the nose can greatly frighten not only parents, but also the baby himself. The correct action for parents would be not to panic, but to calmly react to what is happening. You should be prepared that the baby is frightened and may even throw a tantrum. This cannot be allowed, because the blood may bleed even more.

Bleeding from the nose

First of all, you need to know that bleeding can be insignificant, then the amount of blood loss is very small, or it can be profuse. Blood may flow from one or, simultaneously, from both nostrils. Flow from the nose, or flow down the back of the throat, which is especially dangerous.

IMPORTANT: If the nosebleed does not stop, or even intensifies, within ten to fifteen minutes, you should urgently seek medical help.

There are many reasons for the onset of bleeding, let’s consider the most possible:

  • The first and most common is that the walls of blood vessels are very sensitive and react to any external stimulus. This could be dry indoor air during the heating season, or dry and hot weather during the summer months. Both in winter and summer, it is necessary to take care of humidifying the air in the children's bedroom. There is no need to buy expensive humidifiers; hanging wet towels or a bowl of water near the radiator will help solve the problem. In addition, it is necessary to ventilate the child’s room before going to bed.
  • The baby may simply turn over unsuccessfully in his sleep, hitting his own hand or the bed
  • Picking your nose can damage delicate blood vessels and cause excessive bleeding.


Picking your nose can cause nosebleeds
  • Foreign objects inserted into a nostril while parents are distracted often cause nighttime bleeding.
  • Viruses and bacteria primarily affect the baby’s mucous membranes, making them more sensitive and loose, exposing blood vessels to damage. Blood, at the same time, begins to flow more to the mucous membrane, causing bleeding
  • Dried mucus prevents the child from breathing normally during sleep, and he, trying to get rid of it, damages the walls of blood vessels
  • Night bleeding can also be caused by vasoconstrictor drops used during a viral infection. This can be caused by uncontrolled or too long use of drugs. The nasal mucosa atrophies, becomes thinner and more vulnerable, exposing the nasal vessels to damage
  • Night bleeding may occur due to a high temperature in the baby, rising against the background of illness


high fever can cause nosebleeds

More serious causes include the following diseases, which are indicated by night bleeding:

  • Increased intracranial pressure. If headaches, frequent nausea and vomiting are added to the bleeding, for no apparent reason, you should immediately seek help from a neurologist.
  • Another serious disease like tuberculosis can be prevented by nosebleeds at night and during the day. But then they should be accompanied by symptoms such as: bleeding repeats every day, added to them is the release of mucus in the form of pus, fever, prolonged period, sudden weight loss, fatigue and severe sweating
  • New growths can form in a child’s nose; they can be either benign or malignant. Symptoms pointing to this particular cause may include nasal congestion, headache and changes in the child’s voice.


nasal polyps
  • Poor blood clotting can also be manifested by both night and daytime bleeding, while the bleeding itself is very heavy and difficult to stop. And with repeated damage to blood vessels, they can recur. This reason is also indicated by bruises that appear at the slightest damage to the skin, poor healing of wounds and scratches
  • As a cause of nosebleeds, one can also identify a lack of vitamins in the baby’s body, especially vitamin C and rutin, they are responsible for the condition of blood vessels
  • Sudden, dark bleeding from the nose, at any time of the day, can warn of heart failure. Such bleeding occurs spontaneously, initially twice a week, and, if the disease is advanced, every day

IMPORTANT: If night bleeding occurred only once, and it did not happen again, there is no reason to worry. If a systematic repetition of this phenomenon is noticed, it is necessary to undergo an examination in order to find the cause and carry out the correct, comprehensive treatment.

Why does my child have nosebleeds in the morning?



The girl had a nosebleed this morning

Morning bleeding is not much different from night bleeding. They can occur while the child is lying in bed, while washing, on the way to school, or kindergarten. They always bring discomfort to both babies and their parents.

The reasons for this phenomenon may be:

  • As with night bleeding, the cause is increased fragility of blood vessels. The slightest exposure to them, such as dry and warm air, can trigger morning nosebleeds.
  • The child may hit his head on a bed or other piece of furniture
  • Picking your nose when trying to get out mucus that has dried out overnight
  • Viral infections affect the mucous membranes, which also provoke bleeding
  • Body temperature rising to a critical level, or overheating of the child’s body
  • We must not forget about the possibility of the baby sticking a foreign object into the nose; this can also provoke morning bleeding.
  • Too much emotional and physical stress, lack of sleep, or the baby simply did not have time to rest during the night. Or maybe he’s very worried about the upcoming test, or another significant event. All of this individually, or taken together, can cause such an unpleasant phenomenon.
  • A deviated septum and other anomalies in the development of ENT organs can cause blood loss
  • Polyps that have arisen in the nasal cavity are quite often the cause of morning bleeding
  • A sudden change in weather causes surges in blood pressure, which, in turn, affects blood vessels and morning bleeding


The girl, after active play, started bleeding from the nose

IMPORTANT: Like those that occur at any time of the day, morning bleeding can signal illness or a lack of vitamins in a small body. You should not ignore it, but undergo a comprehensive examination.

Why does my child constantly have nosebleeds?

IMPORTANT: If a child experiences frequent and heavy bleeding, it is necessary to seek help from a doctor, because such a phenomenon can signal health problems in a small body:

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Kidney diseases
  • Liver diseases
  • Spleen diseases
  • Lung diseases
  • Allergic reactions
  • Neoplasms
  • Hemophilia
  • Increased intracranial pressure, or perhaps caused by surges in blood pressure
  • Developmental anomalies or mechanical damage to the nasal septum
  • Chronic diseases of ENT organs


Constant nosebleeds are a reason to seek help from a doctor

Frequent bleeding may also occur:

  • With systematic and strong psycho-emotional stress or shocks
  • With constant or prolonged exposure to the open sun, without a hat

IMPORTANT: This list is incomplete; if there is constant bleeding, you should not self-medicate or let the disease take its course, but you should go to the clinic for a full examination of the child.

You can learn about more serious causes of constant nosebleeds from this video.

Video: Nosebleed - Everything will be fine

Why does a child have nosebleeds when he has a runny nose?

Very often, when you blow your nose, you may notice blood on your handkerchief. Many mothers get scared and begin to look for the reason for this. You should be able to distinguish between nosebleeds and snot mixed with blood. If the child starts bleeding during a runny nose, there will be very little mucus in the blood. And if it is snot with blood, then the bulk will be occupied by mucus, there will be very little blood there.

  • A similar phenomenon can occur in children when they blow their nose incorrectly. The baby begins to blow hard, trying to blow away the snot, thereby injuring the nasal mucosa, already damaged by a viral infection, the capillaries break and an admixture of blood appears
  • Trying to get out the interfering accumulations of mucus, the baby may pick his nose with his finger, thereby causing blood to get into the snot
  • The reason for the appearance of blood impurities in the mucus may be the use of vasoconstrictor drugs to relieve nasal congestion
  • Vessels that are too thin and weak are already very easily injured, and a runny nose provokes blood to get into the mucus
  • The appearance of blood during a runny nose may indicate complications of diseases of the ENT organs, especially if impurities of pus were noticed
  • During illness, parents want to protect their baby from the cold, wrap them up too much, and open windows less to ventilate the room. All this indirectly affects the condition of the mucous membranes, they dry out, become thinner, and the slightest impact on them can cause blood to get into the snot. The first thing parents should do is ventilate and humidify the air in the room where the baby is.


Improper nose blowing can cause nosebleeds

IMPORTANT: If such a phenomenon has occurred more than once, but occurs systematically, it is necessary to seek advice from a practicing ENT specialist. To find out the cause, make the correct diagnosis, and prescribe treatment.

Causes of nosebleeds in a one-year-old child

The causes of nosebleeds in a one-year-old child may be the wrong actions of young and inexperienced parents:

  • Frequent irrigation of the nasal mucosa can cause it to become thin and vulnerable
  • Constantly picking a baby's nose with cotton swabs can injure the delicate mucous membrane
  • Too warm and dry air in the room where the baby is located can cause such an unpleasant phenomenon. Such bleeding may be noticed after the baby wakes up, sneezes, or coughs.
  • A child who is playing and is interested in everyone, taking advantage of an oversight, can stick a foreign object into his nostril
  • Children at this age are very curious and require special supervision. After all, even a slight blow by a baby to himself, or a slight fall, can cause bleeding.
  • You shouldn’t allow your baby to pick his nose with his fingers, much less inherit his mother’s actions and pick something else there


IMPORTANT: You should not try to remove an object stuck in the baby’s nostrils on your own; this can only cause harm. You should seek immediate medical attention

In addition to these reasons, bleeding can occur due to health problems in the baby.

  • It is necessary to visit an ENT specialist to exclude pathologies in the structure of the nasopharynx itself and its mucous membrane
  • Neurologist to check intracranial pressure
  • Get a blood test and other necessary tests
  • If necessary, visit a hematologist if problems with blood clotting are detected

IMPORTANT: If the cause has not been found, and other symptoms indicating serious illness are added to the nosebleeds, you should visit other specialized specialists.

Causes of nosebleeds in a 5 year old child



healthy child

The causes of nosebleeds in a 5-year-old child are not much different from bleeding in a one-year-old child, but still:

  • Babies at this age are very active, and it is not always possible to land safely. Falls, bruises and blows can cause bleeding

IMPORTANT: If the baby, after hitting his head, loses consciousness, or the bleeding cannot be stopped on his own, he feels sick and starts vomiting, possibly even blood, you should immediately call an ambulance.

  • After a very active day of play, children may experience nosebleeds before bedtime. The reason for this phenomenon can also be a sudden change in climate, a trip to the mountains, or a plane flight.
  • In the summer, the cause of nosebleeds can be sunstroke; associated symptoms include severe headache, nausea, and possibly vomiting.


child receiving treatment
  • Even at the age of five, a child is capable of sticking something in his nose, and we must not forget about this reason.
  • Babies at this age are very sensitive to viral and bacterial infections, and they, in turn, negatively affect the delicate nasal mucosa. Even a harmless sneeze can cause bleeding.
  • Dry and warm air negatively affects the condition of the mucous membranes in children and 5 years old, making it even more vulnerable to external irritants
  • Vasoconstrictor drugs also have a negative effect on the nasal mucosa, especially their incorrect use, which can cause bleeding
  • A lack of vitamins, especially those responsible for the normal condition of blood vessels, can cause a similar phenomenon


child being examined by an ENT specialist

IMPORTANT: If bleeding is profuse, it is difficult to stop it; it begins to occur regularly, often for no apparent reason. Or, the reasons indicate a possible pathology in development, or a progressive disease, you should seek help from a competent specialist.

Why does a 10 year old child have a nosebleed?

In addition to the reasons that cause nosebleeds, at the age of 5 years, in a child ten years old and older, there may be the following reasons:

  • The reason for this phenomenon may be increased growth. During this period, blood vessels and joints are especially sensitive to changes in proportions in the body; they cannot keep up with rapid growth. As a result, the vessels become thinner, more fragile and susceptible to irritants.
  • Changes in hormonal levels, especially for girls, can provoke nosebleeds, you shouldn’t be afraid of this phenomenon, everything will work out after adjusting your hormones
  • Very often, at this age, children may be bothered by vegetative-vascular dystonia. Dizziness, weakness, sweating, and too fast heartbeat are added to nosebleeds
  • A possible cause at this age may be increased intracranial pressure


The boy's nose began to bleed

Why does a child's nose bleed after crying?

  • The reason for the appearance of blood during and after crying may be thin and closely located blood vessels. At this time, the child becomes very tense, which provokes capillary ruptures and the onset of bleeding.
  • If such situations become regular, you need to find a good practicing ENT specialist to examine the baby’s nasopharynx. A possible reason may be an incorrect structure of the septum, closely spaced vessels, or formed polyps.
  • The cause may also be increased, within normal limits, arterial or intracranial pressure
  • It may not be a bad idea to consult a hematologist.

How to stop nosebleeds in a child?

IMPORTANT: The most important thing, when a child starts bleeding from the nose, is not to panic. This can only scare the baby even more. He will start crying, throwing a tantrum, thereby only increasing the bleeding.



  • You should sit the child on a high chair, or take the baby in your arms and sit on the high chair, together with the baby, for the mother herself
  • Tilt the baby's head slightly forward

IMPORTANT: Under no circumstances should you tilt your child’s head back or place him on a pillow; he may simply choke on his own blood.

  • Lightly press your nose with your fingers, regardless of which nostril the blood is coming from, you need to pinch two
  • To stop bleeding more quickly, you need to apply something cold to the bridge of your nose. This could be ice, a towel soaked in cold water
  • Open a window to allow fresh air
  • You need to sit in this position for 10 minutes, no less. After this period, the bleeding should stop
  • If blood flows down the wall of the throat into the mouth, ask the baby to spit it out, this way it will become clear whether the bleeding has stopped or not.


Mom stops nosebleeds correctly

IMPORTANT: If this does not happen, and the bleeding becomes more severe, the baby’s condition worsens sharply, even to the point of loss of consciousness, you must immediately go to the hospital.

  • After the bleeding has stopped, do not let the baby blow his nose, no matter how much he wants to. The same prohibition applies to increased physical activity; let the baby play calm, effortless games for the rest of the day.

IMPORTANT: Do not plug the nostrils with cotton swabs, this can cause even more severe damage to the mucous membrane or nearby vessels.

You can watch this video to learn how to properly deal with nosebleeds.

Video: Nosebleeds - Emergency care - School of Doctor Komarovsky

What to do if your child’s nose is bleeding: tips and reviews

  • The first advice in this current situation would be not to panic. And, having calmed both yourself and the child, stop the bleeding that has begun with the right actions
  • Most often, during the heating season, the cause of this unpleasant phenomenon is dry and warm air. You should take care of purchasing a humidifier, or humidify the air yourself using improvised means. Be sure to ventilate the room more often and do wet cleaning
  • If the onset of bleeding can be associated with an allergic reaction, it is important to exclude allergens that irritate the nasal mucosa and subsequently injure the blood vessels, and start taking antihistamines
  • If bleeding, for no apparent reason, happened once or twice, there is no need to sound the alarm immediately. You should monitor your child; perhaps, after suffering a viral infection, he has developed the habit of picking his nose
  • It is also necessary to teach the baby to blow his nose correctly, from time to time to stop too active play, to make sure that an overly curious baby does not stick anything up his nose


drop of blood on a paper napkin

IMPORTANT: If bleeding begins to appear more frequently, and even more so regularly, you should consult a pediatrician or a specialist.

  • Judging by reviews from the Internet, even vitamin complexes can provoke nosebleeds. In this case, stopping their use eliminates the problem of bleeding
  • Very often, doctors advise not to worry, but to wait until the baby outgrows this unpleasant phenomenon, attributing the reason to the location of the blood vessels in the nasal cavity being too close. You should be prepared that this may take more than one month, but even several years.
  • The doctor may prescribe vitamin C in combination with routine, which will help strengthen blood vessels, lubricate the nasal cavity with sea buckthorn or vaseline oil, try not to use local vasoconstrictor drugs, drink enough fluids, ventilate the room more often and spend time in the fresh air

IMPORTANT: In the case of oils, you must be very careful; before use, you should check for the possibility of an allergic reaction.

Video: What to do if you have a nosebleed?

Nosebleeds are a common pathology that often occurs in childhood. In most cases, the condition does not cause concern, but sometimes it is fraught with quite serious consequences.

Nosebleeds and its types in a child

Nasal blood loss is the leakage of blood fluid from the nasal sinuses due to damage to the walls of blood vessels.

It is observed in 60% of children. Mostly unpleasant manifestations occur between the ages of 2 and 10 years, with a peak between 3 and 8 years.

You can often stop it yourself using simple methods (cold, hydrogen peroxide). If there is a lot of bleeding, and this is repeated with enviable consistency, you should definitely pay attention, since the pathology can lead to dangerous complications.

It is important to find out the cause of the unpleasant symptom, since this condition is caused by somatic or infectious diseases.

According to doctors, ENT departments treat about 10% of patients who were taken to the hospital with severe nosebleeds.

There are two types of bleeding:

  • anterior - originates from the front of the nose, usually on one side only. Accounts for about 90% of all nosebleeds. Localization occurs, as a rule, in the lower part of the septum. This area contains a large accumulation of small vessels that are easily injured. Often the nose bleeds due to the dry air in the room. As a result, dehydration of the mucous membrane occurs and cracks in the nasal membrane appear;
  • the posterior one is the most dangerous, since it appears due to a violation of the integrity of large vessels. The discharge occurs along the back wall of the throat. It is very difficult to stop the bleeding, so you should immediately call an ambulance. Occurs with increased pressure or in case of injury. Poses a major risk to the respiratory tract as it can cause aspiration and instant death.

Video - Emergency help. "School of Doctor Komarovsky"

Causes of nosebleeds

Pathology occurs due to damage to the walls of blood vessels. Doctors identify local and general causes of leakage.

  • trauma to the nose or head (fracture of the skull, nasal plate);
  • minor trauma to the mucous membranes (picking the nose, inserting small objects, scratching);
  • postoperative damage to the nasal septum (removal of adenoid tissue, puncture);
  • abnormal development of vascular tissue;
  • inflammatory diseases of the nasal mucosa (sinusitis, sinusitis);
  • inherited anomaly of deviated septum;
  • neoplasms (tumors, polyps);
  • heavy physical activity (sports).
  • fragility of nasal vessels;
  • infectious diseases;
  • hereditary pathology;
  • dry indoor air;
  • lack of vitamin A, C;
  • hyperthermia of the body (overheating), sunstroke;
  • increased body temperature;
  • cardiovascular diseases;
  • a jump in blood pressure in one direction or the other;
  • hormonal changes in the body in adolescents;
  • frequent use of vasoconstrictors and other medications.

In most cases, bleeding occurs due to a violation of the integrity of blood vessels near the entrance to the nose. In this place there is the Kisselbach zone, which is rich in capillaries. In addition, the mucous membrane here is more tender and fleshy than in other areas.

Children often have nosebleeds at night, which is very frightening for parents. If the unpleasant symptom is one-time in nature, then there is no need to worry.

The main factor that could cause this situation is picking the nose and traumatizing the mucous membrane. Another important reason may be the air in the room being too dry.

If blood loss is accompanied by complaints of dizziness, the child should be taken for examination.

Video - Causes of nosebleeds and how to stop it correctly

Features of treatment

Usually the bleeding stops quickly and does not require medical intervention. However, sometimes the situation is beyond control and it is impossible to stop the bleeding on your own. Doctors should be called urgently if a child has:

  • poor blood clotting (hemophilia);
  • loss of consciousness, fainting;
  • taking medications that thin the blood (aspirin-containing drugs, ibuprofen);
  • there is a risk of large blood loss;
  • suspicion of a skull fracture (clear fluid flows out along with blood);
  • vomiting with blood clots (possible damage to the esophagus, ventricle) or bleeding with foam appears.

Children with renal hypertension, severe trauma to the head and nose, and impaired coagulation are subject to emergency hospitalization.

First aid

In order to stop nosebleeds, it is necessary to carry out simple manipulations.

  1. First of all, you should calm the baby down and explain to him that nothing bad happened and there is no need to swallow blood.
  2. The child is seated in a horizontal position. The body must be tilted slightly forward. If you throw your head back, the flow of blood will only increase, and conditions will be created for it to enter the respiratory tract.
  3. The nostrils are compressed with your fingers for 5–10 minutes, and cold is applied to the bridge of the nose.
  4. After 5 min. tampons soaked in a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide or vasoconstrictor drops (Naphthyzin, Galazolin) are carefully inserted into the nasal passages. The medicine is instilled in 2-3 drops and pressed against the nostrils.
  5. Tampons should be removed very carefully, otherwise the blood clot will be damaged and bleeding will begin again.
  6. The nasal mucosa is coated with Vaseline or Neomycin (Bacitracin) ointment - this will speed up the healing process.

After the bleeding has stopped, the child should be taken for a consultation with an ENT specialist to prevent recurrence. In addition, it is necessary to accurately identify the cause of nosebleeds. The baby's condition is assessed based on the results of rhinoscopy (a method of examining the nasal sinuses using special mirrors). If necessary, the child will have the bleeding area cauterized. You may need to consult a hematologist, neurologist, endocrinologist and other specialists.

If the bleeding does not stop for more than 15–25 minutes, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance and hospitalize the baby.

To provide first aid, the child should be seated on a chair or on the lap of an adult and the body should be slightly tilted forward, the nostrils should be tightly pinched with the fingers for 5 minutes.

What can't you do?

In case of nosebleeds, it is strictly prohibited:

  1. Blow your nose, as this causes increased flow.
  2. Throwing the head back or laying the child on a horizontal surface - in this case, the veins in the head are compressed, the patient’s blood pressure rises, which causes even greater blood loss. In addition, blood fluid begins to flow down the back of the throat and can enter the stomach or respiratory tract. In this case, vomiting or blockage of the airways may occur, which can lead to suffocation.
  3. Removing a foreign body from your sinuses on your own may cause it to move and cause suffocation.

Medicines to treat nosebleeds

One of the effective treatment methods is drug therapy. The doctor prescribes medications that help reduce capillary fragility and permeability:

  • Ascorutin (tablets), take after meals;
  • Ascorbic acid;
  • Rutin.

Additionally, the doctor may prescribe:

  • Dicinone - used as a prophylaxis and to quickly stop bleeding. Can be used in the form of injections or tablets;
  • Aminocaproic acid - intravenously or in the form of drops;
  • Calcium chloride and calcium gluconate - intravenously;
  • Vikasol - used to enhance the effect of other medications, as well as to improve blood clotting.

In case of severe bleeding that recurs periodically, the doctor may prescribe blood products:

  • platelet mass;
  • fresh frozen plasma.

If bleeding occurred due to injury, the child is discharged;

  • Trasylol.

Medicines for the treatment of nosebleeds - gallery

Asorutin (ascorbic acid and rutin) helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels, replenishes the lack of vitamin C Dicynone is used in medicine as an “ambulance” to stop bleeding. Aminocaproic acid reduces capillary permeability and helps stop bleeding Calcium chloride is a drug that can restore calcium deficiency in the body, which is necessary for the normal blood clotting process Vikasol helps normalize blood clotting Contrical is used for bleeding caused by injuries, as well as after operations.

The dosage, frequency and duration of use of medications, as well as the form of application, are prescribed only by the attending physician after a thorough examination of the small patient and determination of the cause of the pathology.

The use of drug treatment allows the situation to improve within 7-10 days.

If conservative treatment does not bring results, the doctor may resort to other treatment methods.

Preventive measures

To prevent nosebleeds, a number of preventive measures should be taken to help strengthen blood vessels:

  • indoor air humidification;
  • taking vitamin supplements;
  • consumption of fresh vegetables, fruits, fish, dairy products, citrus fruits;
  • prevention of nose and head injuries;
  • avoid eating foods that can thin the blood: apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, currants;
  • taking medications that can strengthen the child’s immunity and moisturize the nasal mucosa (especially in children who are prone to allergies and frequent colds).

The child should avoid strenuous sports, as well as serious exercise (especially after blood loss).

Preventive measures - gallery

Taking vitamins helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels and improve the child’s immunity. An air humidifier maintains a normal level of humidity in the room for a long time A balanced diet with a sufficient amount of micro- and macroelements has a beneficial effect on the condition of the circulatory system

Nosebleeds in childhood are often harmless. However, in case of heavy leakage, as well as in case of relapses, you should consult a doctor for a thorough examination and identify the cause of the pathology. In any case, contacting specialists will not hurt, since this unpleasant syndrome can be a harbinger of a serious illness.

If a child’s nose bleeds, there can be various reasons - from simple overheating or overwork to serious diseases of organs and systems. Nosebleeds occur periodically in children aged 1 to 10 years, and most often there is nothing dangerous about it. But sometimes it is still worth paying attention to such a symptom so as not to miss the development of any disease.

Causes of nosebleeds in children:

  • nasal injury;
  • overheat;
  • overwork;
  • damage to blood vessels in the nose as a result of picking or inserting foreign objects into it;
  • vascular weakness;
  • dry indoor air or extreme heat;
  • vitamin deficiency (lack of vitamin C and rutin);
  • close location of vessels to the surface;
  • viral infection, etc.

In a one-year-old child, nosebleeds practically do not occur; this is more common in older children, whose age is 2-4 years. They lead a more active lifestyle and can injure their nose, get a viral infection, and have the bad habit of picking their nose.

Why do children bleed? The most common reasons include overheating in the sun or overwork. As a result of exposure to high temperatures, a child who is 1 year of age or older may experience increased blood pressure, which can lead to nosebleeds. Why do children who are 4 years old or older often experience nosebleeds that occur at night? This is usually associated with picking the nose, as a result of which the baby injures the nasal cavity, which leads to a characteristic symptom.

The reasons that a child’s nose is bleeding include dry air in the room, as a result of which the child’s mucous membrane dries out and can be easily injured, a viral infection that causes disruption of the nasopharyngeal mucosa, which leads to unpleasant symptoms, including the appearance blood from the nose. Frequently blowing your nose with a stuffy nose can also cause bleeding.

In young children, as a rule, the appearance of blood from the nose is very rare, since (despite the immaturity of the vessels and tissues) they have practically no cavernous tissue, which is the source of blood. Therefore, if a baby under 1 year of age develops bleeding from the nasal passages, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

The causes of nosebleeds in children under one year of age are:

  • inaccurate removal of crusts;
  • polypous formations;
  • syphilis;
  • infection with staphylococcus;
  • genetic predisposition;
  • hemophilia, etc.

Teenagers often experience symptoms such as nosebleeds, which is explained by hormonal changes. In a female teenager, such a symptom may appear on the eve of the onset of menstruation, later as a harbinger of menstruation. Other causes of bleeding in a teenager include: increased blood pressure due to excessive emotional and physical stress, injury to the nose as a result of physical activity or during a fight (which is not uncommon for young people of adolescence).

Some diseases of internal organs, often of a bacterial nature, initially manifest themselves with only one symptom, and this is nosebleeds. It can be distinguished from ordinary nosebleeds, which periodically occur in children 3-5 years of age and above, by relapses (more than 2 times a week) not associated with any previous process.

Causes of nosebleeds:

  • tuberculosis;
  • heart failure;
  • the presence of tumors or cystic formations in the nose.

Tuberculosis

There is an opinion that mycobacteria damages only the lungs; in fact, this disease can damage all tissues and organs (heart, blood vessels, brain, etc.). Statistics say that more than 500,000 children around the world are infected with Koch's bacillus every year, and more than 70,000 of them die as a result of the disease.

No one is immune from tuberculosis, since now this disease affects absolutely everyone, regardless of social status and age. One of the first symptoms of this health-threatening disease is nosebleeds. This happens when mycobacteria enters the body through the nose, settles there and begins to destroy small and large vessels, soft and cartilage tissue, contributing to frequent bleeding.

With tuberculosis, blood flows from the nose for no more than 3-4 minutes, and this symptom repeats almost every day. The blood itself is often scarlet in color and sometimes contains impurities of pus or mucus. Along with bleeding, other symptoms of the disease may appear, such as high fever, weight loss, general weakness, and sweating, which most often occurs at night. In a teenager, weight loss can equate to anorexia, which may include vomiting, loss of vision, impaired breathing, and coughing.

Tuberculosis is now a non-fatal disease, but very insidious. If you miss its occurrence and do not start treatment on time, you can subsequently remain disabled or die.

Heart failure develops in a child as a consequence of a chronic illness, most often heart disease. Heart disease can be either congenital or acquired. Initially, the disease may manifest itself with other symptoms, but later, in case of heart failure, nosebleeds in children will certainly occur.

Bleeding due to heart pathology is often short-lived, no more than 5 minutes. In heart failure, blood stagnates, the pressure in the capillaries and venous vessels increases, as a result of which the vessel bursts, and blood can be observed from the nose. Nosebleeds in children can occur at any time of the day, and they recur several times a week.

Blood in children with heart failure is dark in color (venous blood), and it can come not only from the nose, but also from the mouth. These symptoms will certainly be accompanied by a feeling of fear, in particular the fear of death, which is inherent in all people facing heart disease. This manifests itself in the form of a child’s fear of bleeding and panic. In this case, you can observe an enlarged abdomen or a hump in the heart area.

Additional symptoms, such as cyanosis of the skin, cough, shortness of breath, should alert parents and force them to take immediate measures to solve the problem, namely, consult a doctor. Treatment of acute heart failure is not always possible, so it is better to treat the disease at the initial stage, preventing the development of pathological changes.

Tumors or cysts in the nose

The reasons for the appearance of cysts or tumors in the nose can be different, but almost always the new growths that appear are accompanied by bleeding, and not simple, but long-lasting, profuse bleeding, which is very difficult to stop without medical help. The causes of nosebleeds due to cystic formations are various types of tissue destruction in the nose.

With this pathology, the child’s nose bleeds during sleep or while awake, and can occur several times a week. Unlike other diseases, in which the bleeding is quiet and drip, with formations in the nose the blood literally flows out in a stream. Bloody discharge may contain mucus and blood clots. Added to this symptom are nasal congestion, which occurs as a result of a barrier or mechanical blockage of the airways by a tumor, a change in voice, and headache.

This pathological disorder is confused by many with the common cold, which sometimes manifests itself in the form of lesions or rashes in the nose, and they are smeared with local medications, which does not give any positive results.

If bleeding starts and does not stop for more than 10 minutes, while the child is at rest, then there is reason to suspect the presence of a tumor in the nose.

Treatment of nosebleeds involves first stopping the bleeding. You can try to do this at home on your own, but the main thing is to avoid common mistakes that many parents make.

So, what not to do if your child has a nosebleed:

  1. Place it in a horizontal position. As a result of the child throwing his head back, the veins located in the neck can be pinched, which can cause even more bleeding. If the blood does not flow out, it will enter the child’s esophagus, which is dangerous due to intoxication and vomiting.
  2. Pinch the bridge of your nose, trying to stop bleeding.
  3. Place a cotton swab “turunda” into the nose (if the cause of bleeding is illness).

What should a baby do to stop bleeding from the nasal passages? First of all, as a treatment, it is necessary to apply cold to the bridge of the nose (ice in a bag, a handkerchief soaked in water, a cold bottle of water, etc.).

If the blood flows for more than 5 minutes, you need to call emergency help; before arriving, you can moisten a napkin or gauze piece in hydrogen peroxide and, twisting the fabric into a flagellum, carefully and shallowly insert it into the nasal passage.

If the nature of the nasal discharge is simple, then as a result of this the bleeding will stop without additional measures.

It happens that nosebleeds can be hidden, that is, they flow inward and not outward. In this case, the child may spit out blood with saliva. Sometimes this is the norm, but it is better to show the baby to the doctor, since such a sign may indicate various diseases of the internal organs (liver, kidneys, stomach, intestines, etc.). The treatment of such diseases should be carried out exclusively by a doctor, in a hospital setting.

In some cases, cauterization is prescribed as a treatment. It is recommended if the child is often bothered by the appearance of blood from the nose, and this symptom is not associated with illness. They cauterize the nose with a laser, liquid nitrogen, tonin, nitrate vinegar, etc. Not everyone is happy with laser treatment for nosebleeds, since this procedure often leaves scars in the nose, which subsequently bother the child. Most doctors do not recommend treating this problem with cauterization, since this eliminates the symptom and not the cause, which often lies in the fragility of the blood vessels.

You can strengthen blood vessels using vitamin therapy containing vitamin C. It is recommended to enrich your diet with foods that contain this vitamin. Such products include rose hips, citrus fruits, potatoes, sauerkraut, etc. Vascular weakness may go away on its own when the child reaches a certain age.

In case of frequent bleeding, it is recommended to treat the walls of blood vessels and mucous membranes with salt water. It can be instilled into the nose by preparing it yourself or purchasing special preparations at the pharmacy (No-Salt, Aqua-Maris, etc.). It is better if it is possible to take children to the sea, where there is special humid and salty air: it moisturizes the overdried mucous membranes naturally. Sea water also helps to rinse the nasal cavity, relieve swelling, and shrink the adenoids, which will ultimately strengthen the vascular walls and reduce the risk of bleeding.

If a child's nosebleeds occur frequently and are prolonged, treating it at home is dangerous to health. It is better to immediately show the baby to the doctor, undergo the recommended examinations and accept the appropriate treatment recommendations. To prevent problems with blood vessels in the nose, it is necessary to monitor the humidity in the room, treat colds in a timely manner, and monitor your diet, enriching it with healthy vegetables and fruits. You need to adhere to the daily routine, avoid overtiring the child, and put him to bed on time. It is necessary to undergo a comprehensive preventive examination annually.