NOSEBLEEDS

Nosebleeds are common problems in childhood.  They can be caused by vigorous nose blowing, nasal allergies or picking the nose.  100% of all children pick their nose so all children are susceptible to nose bleeds.  The treatment for uncontrolled bleeding is pressure at the site of the bleeding.  To stop the nose bleed, tightly pinch the soft parts of the nose against the center wall for 10 minutes.  Hold your child and instruct him/her to breathe through his/her mouth.  Don’t release the pressure for 10 minutes.

If bleeding continues use Neo-Synephrine nose drops or a thin coat of vasoline petroleum jelly in the nostrils and then reapply pressure for another 10 minutes.  Call your child’s doctor if the bleeding doesn’t stop after 20 minutes of direct pressure.

To prevent nosebleeds, apply a small amount of vasoline petroleum jelly to the inside of the nostril before bedtime.  This will help prevent irritation and dryness.  Increase the humidity in your child’s bedroom by placing a cool-mist vaporizer at his bedside.  If your child has nasal allergies, treat him with the appropriate antihistamines.  If these measures don’t work and the nosebleeds continue, your child should be evaluated by his doctor.

A cold wash cloth on the forehead, pressing the bony parts of the nose and packing the nose with gauze are common mistakes used to treat nose-bleeds.  If you ask your child to treat a nose bleed by tilting his head back, this will only cause the blood to flow down the back of the throat rather than out the nostril.  This technique sometimes causes the child to vomit blood.

If you have any questions or concerns about this or any other pediatric problem, contact Leitchfield Pediatric Clinic at 259-5641.