My Son Has A Lot Of Nose Bleeds, What Should I Do?
Pediatric consultations often have mothers and fathers concerned: ” my son has a lot of nose bleeds, is it serious? Although blood is always a cause for startle, in this case it should not be a cause for alarm.
Children up to 10 years of age often have episodes of nosebleeds. The frequency can reach 2 or 3 times a week and, although it is very impressive, it usually does not indicate any pathology. You should know that, sometimes, the blood can come from the back of the nose, swallowing it and causing vomiting.
Why does my child’s nose bleed a lot?
There are several reasons why children can bleed from the nose and these are some of the most common:
Allergies or colds. When this happens, the nasal passages become inflamed and irritated, which can cause the vessels in the nose to dilate and rupture, causing mild to moderate bleeding.
Hits. During children’s games, it is possible that they are accidentally hit or kicked and their delicate nose bleeds. The same thing happens when an object or fingers are put in the nostrils; they can get hurt.
Too dry environments. If you live in an area with a climate that is too dry, you should be aware that the airways can become dry and make you more prone to bleeding. If this is your case, have a humidifier at home, this will be of great help.
Inhalation of toxic products. Here we must be more careful since toxins could not only make you bleed, but also irritate your respiratory system. Keep children away when cleaning with abrasive products and be careful not to leave bleach, detergent, cleaners, etc. within their reach.
Other aspects to consider
- If you are clear that your child’s nose bleeds a lot, you should rule out any anatomical problem. This could be hindering the correct functions.
- There may also be some type of malformation or polyps, generally of benign origin and which must be treated immediately. This way, possible complications are avoided and the bleeding stops.
- Another thing to check is blood clotting. There are diseases that alter this condition of the blood and also some medications that can affect it, causing bleeding in the nasal passages.
What can I do if my child’s nose bleeds a lot?
- You have already seen that it is not usually something that we should worry about, so stay calm to prevent him from freaking out.
- Standing or sitting, tilt the child’s head slightly forward and invite him to gently blow his nose.
- For 10 minutes, press down on the soft part of your nose, right in the middle. After that time, release it. Repeat one more time if the bleeding hasn’t stopped.
- If the bleeding continues after this maneuver, go to a nearby health center.
My son’s nose bleeds a lot. When should I go to the doctor?
There are some considerations for which it would be advisable to take your child to the pediatrician with a nosebleed.
- If you lose a lot of blood and, after the maneuver explained above, it does not stop.
- When you vomit more than blood and cough too much.
- If your child loses consciousness or is pale and sweaty.
- One of your blood vessels may also be very small and easily break. If so, the doctor can stop the bleeding with silver nitrate.
As you can see, the causes are quite common: flu, allergies, bumps and the propensity of some children to put objects in the nose. You should be clear about it and try to convey to him that there is nothing to be scared of and that you can always help him feel better.
