Nosebleeds in children: what to do?
Nosebleeds in children often look more dangerous than they actually are. Nevertheless, it is important to react correctly. Here you can find out what help you need to take and what you should refrain from.
There are various causes for nosebleeds in children and babies. In such moments you have to keep a cool head, even if you are at least as frightened as your child.
Causes of Nosebleeds
Even a light tap on the nose is enough to cause your child to bleed. Sometimes it’s just the intense nose picking. With such a nasal cavity exploration, veins can burst and tears can form, which lead to bleeding. Other causes are colds and runny noses . Because frequent blowing of the nose puts a strain on the nasal mucous membranes. Dry air dries out the nasal mucosa and cracks appear, which can then cause bleeding.
prevent nosebleeds
If the cause of the bleeding is dry air, ointments and humidifiers will help. If you blow your nose frequently, you should always make sure that your child does not blow his nose too boldly into the handkerchief.
What to do if you have a nosebleed
- Sit your child up straight and calm them down
- Lean your child’s head forward to avoid swallowing the blood
- Applying pressure will stop the bleeding. To do this, your child or, depending on the age, you yourself, slightly squeeze the nostrils for about 10 minutes
- Support your forehead with your hand
- Place cool rags on the bridge of your nose and also on the back of your neck
- If the bleeding continues for a long time, the emergency services must be called. Because if your child loses too much blood, there is a risk of loss of consciousness
What you shouldn’t do
- Under no circumstances should you tilt your child’s head back, as this will cause blood to enter the airways and cause shortness of breath.
- You should also avoid putting tissues in your nose, as this will swallow up the stagnant blood and can lead to nausea or even choking.
Going to the doctor with frequent nosebleeds?
Frequent nosebleeds should be checked out by a doctor. The causes may be your child’s high blood pressure. However, a coagulation disorder may also be responsible for the constant bleeding. The doctor can help with vascular sclerotherapy.