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Infant Nose Bleed: Causes and Care Tips:
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Most nosebleeds are nothing serious.
However, if your child suddenly starts having significant nosebleeds and has never had them before, especially if they also have other forms of bleeding (such as easy bruising, swollen joints, or bleeding when brushing their teeth), you should seek immediate medical attention.
In such cases, a doctor will need to perform blood tests to ensure there’s nothing serious going on.
Infant Nose Bleed: Causes and Care Tips:
Common Causes of Nosebleeds
In the vast majority of cases, a nosebleed occurs because the mucous membranes inside the nose are quite fragile.
Actions like picking the nose, blowing too hard, having a cold, or a sinus infection can cause a nosebleed.
Infant Nose Bleed: Causes and Care Tips:
How to Handle a Nosebleed
The first thing to do is apply pressure.
Hold pressure on the nose for 3 to 5 minutes.
It might sound funny, but you just need to hold the pressure like this.
Do not lay flat, as the blood might drip down your throat and you might swallow it, which can cause other issues.
Infant Nose Bleed: Causes and Care Tips:
Tips for Children Prone to Nosebleeds
For children prone to nosebleeds and who have had blood work done to rule out serious conditions, there’s a trick that can help.
Use a spray of Afrin or Neosynephrine along with applying pressure.
These are vasoconstrictors, which shrink the blood vessels and help stop the bleeding quickly.
Infant Nose Bleed: Causes and Care Tips:
Avoiding Packing and Other Helpful Tips
Packing the nose is not a good idea because removing the packing might also remove the scab and cause the nose to start bleeding again.
If your child has sinus issues or a congested, snotty nose, using saline to clear it out and then applying pressure can be helpful.
Sometimes, applying a little bit of Vaseline or any kind of ointment inside the nose can provide a protective layer over the mucous membranes while they heal.
Infant Nose Bleed: Causes and Care Tips:
When to Consult a Doctor
Most nosebleeds are of no major consequence.
However, if they keep happening repeatedly and you haven’t had your child evaluated by a doctor, it would be wise to do so.
Here are a few tips to remember: apply pressure, use Afrin or Neosynephrine if needed, and consider using a small amount of Vaseline to protect the mucous membranes.
Infant Nose Bleed: Causes and Care Tips:
Rare Cases and Cauterization
In rare cases, sometimes the question arises if the child’s nose should be cauterized.
Some pediatricians or ear, nose, and throat specialists can use silver nitrate or electric cautery.
However, I think it’s best to leave this to the specialists, as cauterization can sometimes make things worse.
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