Why does my child keep getting nose bleeds?

Despite being very unpleasant for your child, nosebleeds are not usually a sign of anything serious. They are common, particularly in children, and most can be easily treated in the home. Depending on the frequency and the severity of your child’s nosebleed, the solution may be home treatment, seeking GP advice, or resorting to immediate medical assistance.

Taking our advice from the NHS, the cause of regular nosebleeds could be any of the following:

  • Picking your nose
  • Blowing your nose too hard
  • The inside of your nose drying out due to changes in air temperature and pressure

If none of these are applicable, it is worth noting that nosebleeds do not always have an underlying cause and are most common in children aged up to 11. To treat your child’s nosebleed at home, you should keep your child sitting or standing upright (not lying down), pinch their nose just above the nostrils for 10 minutes, lean them forwards and place an ice pack on the top of the nose. If your child’s nosebleeds are irregular and infrequent, it is best to stick to home treatment.

However, if any of the following applies to your child, consider booking a GP appointment for your child and getting some professional advice:

  • The nosebleeds are regular and often
  • Your child shows symptoms of anaemia, such as a faster heartbeat, shortness of breath and pale skin
  • Your child is taking blood-thinning medicine
  • Your child has a condition that prevents the blood from clotting, such as haemophilia

If any of the following symptoms are present in your child, consider seeing immediate help in the nearest A&E centre:

  • Your child’s nose bleed is lasting longer than 20 minutes
  • The quantity of blood flow becomes excessive
  • Large quantities of blood are being swallowed by your child, causing them to vomit
  • The bleeding was caused by a physical impact to the head, such as a fall
  • Your child begins to feel weak or dizzy
  • Your child becomes short of breath and finds breathing difficult

To find out more about regular nosebleeds in children, visit the NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nosebleed/

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