Reasons for Nosebleeds in Children

If your child has a nosebleed, it can be scary for both of you. You'll wonder what caused the bleeding, but most often, nosebleeds are not a sign of a major problem.

Typical Causes

• The swelling and irritation of a cold or allergy attack and low humidity can cause a nosebleed. If your child falls on his nose, suffers a blow to the nose, blows too hard or picks his nose, he can have a nosebleed.

More Rare Causes

• Exposure to toxic fumes can cause a nosebleed. Some medications, such as aspirin, can cause abnormal blood clotting and, thus, a nosebleed. A child on oxygen treatments is more likely to have a nosebleed as well.

Chronic Nosebleeds

• If your child has a lot of nosebleeds, take him to his pediatrician. Chronic nosebleeds can be the result of low humidity or a dry climate, but they can also be the sign of more serious conditions, such as hemophilia or polyps.

Treatment

• Tilt the child's head forward, not backward. Ask him to blow gently into a tissue if he can. Pinch the soft part of his nose for a full 10 minutes without releasing pressure. Check after 10 minutes. If he is still bleeding, pinch the soft part again for another 10 minutes. If he is still bleeding after this second 10-minute interval, take him to the pediatrician or emergency room.

When to Call the Doctor

• Go to the emergency room immediately if your child becomes pale, sweaty or nonresponsive while having a nosebleed. If he bleeds an excessive amount, coughs up or vomits blood or something brown that looks like coffee grounds, or has a lot of nosebleeds, you should call your pediatrician.

Warning

• Tilting your child's head back during a nosebleed could cause him to swallow blood. This could cause him, then, to vomit a mixture of his stomach contents and blood.