Making the red stop – when the nose bleeds

The sight of blood-can be scary even to the strongest of us. Children too get scared of nose bleeding. The truth is most nose-bleeds are actually not as bad as they look, and a panicky child will only make the bleeding worse. Most nosebleeds occur in the front part of the nose and last only a few minutes.

A nose starts to bleed when one of the small veins in its lining bursts. It is normally caused by nose picking, sticking small objects inside the nose, injury while playing or blowing the nose too hard. If your child nose-bleeds, aim to reassure them. Help them sit down and give first-aid to stop the bleeding.

Simple home treatment

• Once the child is seated, hold their nostrils with your fingers, handkerchief or facecloth.
• Pinch the lower, soft part of the nose between the thumb and forefinger.
• Ensure that your grip is firm and the pressure on the nose is steady.
• Hold the nose for 10 minutes. Time with a stopwatch or timer.
• If the child is old enough, teach him how and where to hold his nose.
• It may be a good idea to read a story, talk reassuringly to him or watch television while waiting for the bleeding to stop, to divert the child’s attention.
• After the bleeding has stopped, ensure that the child does not play any rough games for a few of hours to prevent the nosebleed from starting again.
• Ask the child to avoid picking, rubbing or blowing the nose for a couple of days.
• If the bleeding continues, repeat the procedure.
• If the bleeding doesn’t stop, call the doctor.

Preventive tips

• Keep children’s fingernails short to discourage nose picking.
• Counteract the drying effects of indoor heated air by using a humidifier at night in your bedroom.
• Open the mouth when sneezing and advise your child to do the same.
• Apply a little petroleum jelly on the inner side of the nose to soften scabs.
• When to call the doctor
• If there’s a chance the child’s nose may be broken
• If the bleeding can’t be stopped
• If the child frequently gets nosebleeds that take more than 15 minutes to stop
• If the child has trouble breathing
• If the child is bleeding elsewhere, for example from their ears or gums
• If the child has a foreign body stuck up their nose

END: BL 31 / 27