Ihutoto Nosebleeds
A nosebleed is when blood comes out of one or both nostrils. Nosebleeds are common, especially in tamariki (children). They are usually easy to treat and do not mean anything is seriously wrong.
Causes of nosebleeds
Nosebleeds happen when the tiny blood vessels inside your nostrils burst.
Common causes include:
- minor injuries to your nose
- irritation from hay fever
- a cold
- picking your nose.
Other causes include:
- dry air
- changes in air pressure, for example when you are in an aeroplane.
Health conditions and medications
A bleeding nose can be more serious if you:
- have other health problems
- take blood-thinning medicines such as warfarin, dabigatran or rivaroxaban.
If you take blood-thinning medicines and have nosebleeds, talk to your healthcare provider.
First aid for nosebleeds
If you have a nosebleed, try to:
- sit up straight — do not lie down or lean back
- hold your head forward
- breathe through your mouth
- pinch the soft lower part of your nose firmly for at least 10 minutes — do not pinch higher up, over the bone
- hold a cold pack or cold, damp cloth against your nose
- not speak, cough or sniff.
If the bleeding is heavy or does not stop within 20 minutes, keep applying pressure to your nose and see a healthcare provider urgently.
Nosebleeds in tamariki (children)
If your tamaiti (child) has a nosebleed, always check to see if there is something stuck in their nose. If there is, see your healthcare provider straight away.
Do not try to take the object out yourself, as you might cause more damage.
Self-care after a nosebleed
You may need to take extra care after a nosebleed stops.
- Do not blow your nose for a few hours — it might start again.
- Rest and avoid straining or bending over for 1 or 2 days.
- If you sneeze, try to sneeze with your mouth open, to avoid straining your nose.
Treating nosebleeds
If you or your tamaiti have a lot of nosebleeds, you may need treatment to try to stop them.
If you have a raw area inside your nose, your healthcare provider may prescribe an:
- antiseptic ointment
- antibiotic ointment.
If you have swollen blood vessels inside your nose, you may be referred to an otolaryngologist — these used to be called ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists.
Swollen blood vessels causing nosebleeds can be sealed off by touching them with:
- a chemical (silver nitrate) stick
- an electric current.
This is called cauterisation (cor-ter-iz-ay-shun). You will be given a local anaesthetic first, to make your nose feel numb.
Preventing nosebleeds
To lower the risk of you getting another nosebleed:
- if you need to blow your nose, do it as gently as possible
- avoid picking your nose
- use a head guard while playing contact sports, like rugby
- avoid overusing nasal decongestants — always follow the instructions on the packet
- avoid smoking, alcohol and hot drinks — they make the blood vessels in your nose swell.