Nosebleeds

Although they can be scary, nosebleeds are rarely cause for alarm. Common in kids ages 3 to 10 years, nosebleeds often stop on their own and can be treated safely at home.

What to Do:

• Stay calm and reassure your child.
• With your child upright in a chair or in your lap, tilt his or her head slightly forward.
• Gently pinch the nose (just below the bony ridge) with a tissue or clean washcloth.
• Keep pressure on the nose for about 10 minutes; if you stop too soon, bleeding may start again. It may also help to apply ice wrapped in a paper towel.
• Do not have your child lean back. This may cause blood to flow down the back of the throat, which tastes bad and may cause gagging, coughing, or vomiting.
• Have your child to rest for a while after a nosebleed. Discourage nose-blowing, picking, or rubbing, and any rough play.

Call the Doctor if Your Child:

• has frequent nosebleeds
• may have put something in his or her nose
• tends to bruise easily
• has heavy bleeding from minor wounds or bleeding from another place, such as the gums
• recently started taking new medicine

Seek Emergency Care or Call the Doctor if Bleeding:

• is heavy, or is accompanied by dizziness or weakness
• is the result of a fall or blow to the Colds, other viruses, and
• Keep your child's nails short to prevent injuries from nose-picking.
• Keep the inside of your child's nose moist with saline nasal spray or dab petroleum jelly gently around the opening of the nostrils.
• Humidify your child's room with a vaporizer (or humidifier) if the air in your home is dry. Look for a cool mist model, as a hot steam humidifier could scald a child. Keep the machine clean to prevent mildew build-up.
• Make sure your child wears protective athletic equipment when participating in Steven Dowshen, MD
  Date reviewed: November 2007