It is likely that your child will have at least one nosebleed and many more for years to come. This is not abnormal but  can be very frightening. Some blood may also flow down the back of the nose into the mouth and throat. This may cause your child to swallow a great deal of blood and lead to vomiting.

What causes nosebleeds ?

There are many causes of nosebleeds, most of which are not serious. They include :

• colds and allergies which can cause swelling and irritation in the nose
• trauma such as hard blow to the nose, picking the nose or putting something in the nose
• low humidity which makes the house very dry
• exposure to toxic or irritating fumes
• abnormal anatomical structure of the nose
• abnormal blood clotting
• abnormal growths in the nose
• chronic illness that dry out or affect the structure of the nose

How to treat frequent nosebleeds in children

These  tips can help you deal with nosebleeds

• keep the child sitting or standing with his head tilting slightly forward. Let him gently blow his nose if he is older
• pinch the lower half of the child’s nose ( the softer part) between your  thumb and  finger and hold it firmly for a full 10 minutes.  Release the pressure. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped, repeat the procedure for another 10 minutes.  If the bleeding doesn’t stop after this, take the child to the nearest emergency room

DO NOT

• panic when your child has nosebleeds
• have him lie down or tilt his head backwards
• stuff gauze, tissue or anything into your child’s nose to stop the bleeding

How can nosebleeds be prevented

If your child has frequent nosebleeds, ask your pediatrician for saline nose drops. This is more helpful if you live in a very dry climate or if the furnace is on. You can also use a humidifier or vaporizer to help maintain the humidity of the house to a level high enough to prevent nasal drying.  Let your child know not to pick his nose.

When to contact your doctor

Call your pediatrician if :

• you think your child has lost a  lot of blood
• if the blood is coming from your child mouth only or he is vomiting or coughing blood or a brown material that looks like coffee ground
• your child is pale or sweating a lot and is unresponsive
• has frequent nosebleeds along with a chronically  stuffy nose