Nose Bleeds
Nose bleeds while frightening at times, are very common during childhood. Superficial blood vessels on the front center wall of the nose become injured and bleed. A scab forms over the area but is easily dislodged by incidental trauma leading to repetitive bleeding. Dryness of the nasal lining along with the normal rubbing and picking that children do, as well as nasal allergies and vigorous nose blowing predisposes children to the problem.
To stop a bloody nose have your child sit forward and spit out the blood (swallowed blood is nauseating) and squeeze the soft part of the nose for 10 minutes. If it doesn¹t stop, reposition your pressure point and press for another 10 minutes. Don¹t pack the nose with anything. It will bleed when removed. After 20 minutes, call your pediatrician.
To prevent nose bleeds and allow those nasal wall scabs to heal, have your child put 2-3 drops of nasal saline in their nose several times a day and especially before blowing a stuffy nose. Apply some vaseline to the center wall of the nose 2-3 times a day and run a humidifier in your child¹s bedroom.
If your child continues to get daily nose bleeds that last more than 10-20 minutes you should talk to your pediatrician. Rarely, prolonged nose bleeds can be a sign of a bleeding problem. More often, it is a problem that the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor can treat with a very minor procedure.