Why Is My Child Getting Nosebleeds?

I know occasional nosebleeds are a normal part of childhood, but sometimes it feels like I’ve become my son’s personal walking tissue box. It seems like he’s getting bleeds more frequently recently, and I’m wondering how to tell what’s normal and when it’s time to get him checked out.

Signed,
“Tissue Trader”

You are right, nosebleeds in kids are quite common. Most bleeds strike the front of the nose, which is filled with tiny blood vessels that damage easily, and can be caused by several different things—the majority of which shouldn’t cause too much concern.

The most common include:

• Dry air: During the winter months, the tiny blood vessels in the nose may dry out and get irritated, causing them to crack and bleed.
• Picking: This is by far the most common reason for persistent nosebleeds. The nose dries out, kids scratch it, it scabs, the kids pick at the scab, and it bleeds again. Parents tell me all the time that their kids don’t pick their noses. You may not see it, but they do.
• Colds and allergies: These cause swelling inside the nose, and constant nose-blowing makes things worse by irritating the inner lining of the nose. Medicines that treat colds and allergies, such as decongestants and antihistamines, can also dry out nasal membranes, leading to more frequent bleeding.
• Trauma: A blow to the nose (no pun intended), a fall, or a child putting something in their nose can all also cause nosebleeds.

When your kid’s nose bleeds, don’t panic.

Your natural instinct may be to tilt his head back, but that allows the blood to run down the back of the throat, which can irritate the stomach. Instead, have him lean his head slightly forward. Tell him to breathe out of his mouth as you pinch the soft part of the base of his nose between your thumb and index finger and hold firmly. Make sure you’re pinching the bottom part of his nose, not the top where glasses sit. After about five to 10 minutes, check if the bleeding has stopped. If not, repeat for another 10 minutes. You can also apply an ice pack to the bridge of his nose to help constrict the blood vessels and slow the bleeding.

If you’re pinching in the right area and are still not able to get control of the bleeding, call the doctor or visit the nearest emergency room.

To prevent nose bleeds in the future, use a dab of saline nasal gel in the front of each nostril twice a day to keep nasal passages moist. Use a humidifier in his room, and make sure his nails are trimmed and clean to reduce the chance of scratch-inflicted nose bleeds.

When should you call your doctor?

If your child is getting two to three nosebleeds a week over several months, speak to your pediatrician or a pediatric ear, nose, and throat specialist, who can cauterize the problematic blood vessel.

If your child or your family have a history of bleeding disorders, or if your kid starts coughing or spitting blood, see an ear, nose, and throat doctor right away, as this could be a sign of a something serious.

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