Home Articles Alternative Medicine and Health

Are you worried that your child suffers from nosebleeds quite often? If yes, rest assured that you are not alone. Frequent nosebleeds in children are a very common occurrence, especially during the winter season, when the levels of humidity drop and the inner lining of the nose is dried out by indoor heating. There are some children who are more prone to nosebleeds as compared to others and suffer from two or even three nosebleeds each week. Of course, a nosebleed is not just alarming for the parent; it could also cause a fear in the child. This is probably why most parents who face this problem on a regular basis, look for ways on how to stop nosebleeds in children.

How to stop nosebleeds in children?

There are several steps that you can take to stop the nosebleed in your child. As soon as you notice your child's nose bleeding you need to have him or her sit up. Hold your child's nose by applying a firm grip to the softer, lower area of the nose. Older children can do this on their own. The pressure should be applied for at least 10 minutes or so, even if the bleeding has stopped. It is important that the child remains upright for at least 15 to 20 minutes even after the bleeding stops. Bending over or lying down should be strictly avoided for a while.

Ice is also very effective when it comes to stemming the flow of blood from the nose. Apply an ice pack or a cold compress to the bridge of the nose. It is important to hold the ice pack in place for at least 5 minutes or so.

While frequent nosebleeds in children are quite common, it is important for you to get your child checked by a doctor. This is because in some instances, regular nosebleeds could be an indication of an underlying medical condition. At times a nosebleed could also occur in case of a broken nose.

Causes

A child suffers from a nosebleed when one of the small veins that lines the nose burst or ruptures due to any reason. There are several factors that could cause the vein in the nose to rupture, some of which include:

• Picking the nose with a sharp object, especially a finger nail
• Blowing the nose too hard into a tissue
• Trauma or an injury to the nose, while playing
• Foreign objects getting lodged in to nose
• Drying out of the inner nasal canal, because of arid climate
• Allergies towards certain foods or medication
• In some rare instances, bleeding disorders

While most of the causes of nosebleeds in children are not a major cause for concern, some of them can be serious and may require medical intervention. Therefore, if your child does suffer from frequent nosebleeds, which exceed two episodes a week, it may be best for you to consult a doctor.

Preventing nosebleeds is not very difficult and usually requires simple lifestyle changes. Given below are a few simple steps that can help reduce the frequency of nosebleeds in children:

• Encourage healthy behavior in your child and start by discussing why nose-picking is a bad and in some cases harmful habit.
• Keep your child's nails short and trimmed at all times.
• Teach your child how to play in a safe and healthy environment, where the risks of injuries can be minimized
• Inform your child about the dangers of inserting foreign objects in the nose.
• Place a humidifier in your child's bedroom to reduce dryness in the nasal passages, especially during the winter months. Make sure that you clean the humidifier regularly, so that the child does not suffer from an allergic reaction.
• Identify which foods and medication your child may be allergic to and eliminate them from his or her diet, after consulting a doctor.

Treatment

Most parents opt for home treatment for nosebleeds in children because of several reasons. One of the most commonly recommended nosebleed remedies is ice, which is known to stem bleeding caused by different factors. You could either apply an ice pack or a cold compress directly on the child's nose and hold it there for at least 5 to 10 minutes, or even longer, if the child can tolerate it. This causes the tiny veins in the nose to heal faster, thereby stemming the flow of blood.

In addition to ice, you could stop a nosebleed by pinching your nose between your thumb and forefinger. While doing so, you need to apply pressure to the lower, soft area of the nose. Continue this exercise for at least five minutes or so. In case you notice that your child may have a foreign object stuck in the nose, or if your child's nose appears to be broken, do not try to stop the bleeding or treat the nose by yourself. Rush your child to the doctor without any delay. In case you notice that the bleeding from the nose is excessive and uncontrollable, or if your child is experiencing breathing problems, you need to seek emergency epistaxis treatment.

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.