Be Careful When Children Often Nosebleeds

Generally, children often bleed at the age of 3-10 years. The reason could be due to dry air, the habit of digging the nose, or a disturbance in the nose. But be careful, children often nosebleeds can also be caused by a serious condition. Nosebleeds in children can occur suddenly and at any time, such as when he is playing, having activities or going to school, until when he is resting or sleeping. Nosebleeds in medical language are called epistaxis. This condition occurs when small blood vessels in the nose burst. These blood vessels break easily because the walls are thin and are close to the surface of the skin. Nosebleeds can last for a few seconds to several minutes, but generally no more than 10 minutes.

Causes of Children Often Nosebleeds

Children are more at risk of having a nosebleed than adults, because the blood vessels in their nose are more numerous and thinner. There are several things that can cause a child to get frequent nosebleeds, namely:

1. Dry air

The main cause of child nosebleeds is dry air, especially because of the use of air conditioners. Dry air makes mucus in the nose dry (booger) and feels itchy. When the child exhorts his nose excessively to remove the boil, the nasal blood vessels may rupture.

2. Picking the nose

Too often, too deep, or too rough nosing can injure blood vessels in the nose to cause nosebleeds.

3. Colds or allergies

All diseases that cause symptoms such as nasal congestion and irritation can cause nosebleeds. Examples are allergies, sinusitis, and viral or bacterial infections. These conditions can make the lining of the nasal wall become inflamed so that it breaks more easily.

4. Injury to the nose

Nosebleeds in children can also occur if the nose hit, for example when falling or experiencing injury to the head.

5. Entry of foreign objects into the nose

Children aged 2 to 5 years are the group most at risk for experiencing entry of foreign objects in the nose. Foreign objects that often enter the child's nose include beads, nuts, candy, and small toys. Foreign objects can hurt the nose, causing nosebleeds.

6. Side effects of drugs

Some types of drugs to treat allergic symptoms can make the nasal lining dry, so the risk of causing nosebleeds. In addition, drugs that have side effects of bleeding, for example ibuprofen, can also cause frequent nosebleeds.

7. Suffer from certain diseases

Often nosebleeds can also be caused by abnormal blood vessels or blood clotting disorders, although this condition is rare. To be sure, it needs to be checked by an ENT doctor.

How to Handle and Recognize Hazardous Conditions

Don't panic when your child has a nosebleed. To handle this, do the following:

• Ask the child to sit down, bend forward slightly, and breathe through the mouth. It aims to prevent blood from swallowing and irritate the digestive tract.
• Pinch right on the top of the nostrils for 15-20 minutes.
• Attach the ice cube wrapped in a towel to the stem
• If the blood is still running, squeeze the nose again for 10 minutes.
• If a nosebleed in a child occurs because the nose has foreign objects, immediately bring the child to the emergency department (ED) at the nearest hospital so that the foreign object can be removed.

Although nosebleeds are common in children, there are several conditions that need to be watched and seen by a doctor if a child has frequent nosebleeds, namely:

• Occurs in children under 2 years.
• Lasts more than 20 minutes.
• Very much blood coming out.
• Nosebleeds make the child shortness of breath, dizziness, or nausea.
• Having blood clotting disorders.
• Children accidentally swallow enough blood to vomit.
• Nosebleeds are accompanied by symptoms of anemia, which are pale, weak, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
• Nosebleeds occur after serious injury, for example due to an accident.

We recommend that you check the child to the doctor if he often nosebleeds, which is more than once a week. This is usually caused by irritation of small blood vessels in the nose that take a long time to heal, especially in children who have colds or allergies.