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 A number of children suffer from nosebleeds at night; this is a very common occurrence, and the frequency usually increases in winters. Nosebleeds are alarming for the parents, and it can scare many children as well. Sometimes, children do not wake up with the nosebleeds, swallow the blood, and then cough it up later. This makes nosebleed at night seem even more scary and a cause of concern. However, according to the healthcare experts, nosebleed in children are not serious if the occur with a low frequency.

Why are Nosebleeds Caused?

The lining of the nose is rich in blood vessels, and these blood vessels warm the air that we breathe. The blood vessels are vulnerable to injury because they are placed at a shallow depth. The common causes of nosebleeds in children at night are as follows:

• A sudden impact or an injury like a fall in which the something hits the nose.
• Sometimes, high fever leads to nosebleed in children.
• In winters, the lining of the nose becomes dry because of which nosebleeds may occur.
• Some children have the tendency of digging their noses; sometimes, this may cause an injury to the blood vessels and result in bleeding.
• Blowing the nose too hard.
• Allergic reactions caused by certain food or some medicine.

Most of the time, nosebleeds in children at night are not a serious cause of concern, but sometimes, it might be serious and many require consultation with the doctor.

How to Prevent Nosebleeds?

Nosebleeds can be easily prevented by just bringing about a few changes in the lifestyle. A few simple steps that you must follow to prevent nosebleeds in children are as follows:

• Keeping your child’s nails trimmed will help in preventing a number of injuries.
• Teach your child that digging the nose is a bad habit and they must not do it.
• Identify which food or medicines cause allergic reactions and make sure your eliminate these.
• Keep the nostrils moist during the winter season, using some cream after consulting the doctor can help in making sure that the nostrils are not dry.
  

First Aid for Nosebleeds

When a child suffers from nosebleeds, the following three steps must be followed immediately to stop the bleeding.

• Make the child sit and press the head to the chest, this will prevent the blood from going to the throat.
• Soak a cloth in cold water and then gently press it to the nose
• Use your fingers to gently press the nose until the bleeding stops; make sure you do not apply to much pressure.

Home Remedies

A number of parents opt for home remedies to treat nosebleeds in children. These are convenient and safe. A few effective home remedies for nosebleeds in children at nights are as follows.

• An ice pack or a cold compress is very effective in stopping nosebleeds. You can apply it to the nose for about 5 to 10 minutes. This helps in healing the veins faster and thus controls the blood flow.
• Nosebleeds can also be controlled by using your index finger and thumb to pinch the child’s nose. Make sure you apply pressure to the lower area of the nose. This exercise should be continued for at least 5 minutes.

Pouring a drop or two of pediatric nasal drops or a sterilized solution will help in controlling the bleeding.

If you notice that some foreign object is stuck in your child’s nose, then you must not try to treat the bleeding on your own and immediately rush your child to a doctor. If the bleeding is excessive and is not controlled with the home remedies, immediate medical treatment is necessary.

Reference:

1. http://www.chop.edu/healthinfo/nosebleeds.html

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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