What do i do if my nose wont stop bleeding?

• Bleeding from the nose is common in children and is usually not a sign of any underlying problem.
• First aid treatment includes pinching the nostrils until the bleeding stops.
• If the nosebleed won’t stop, see a doctor or go to a hospital emergency department.

A nosebleed happens when one of the blood vessels in the lining of the nose bursts. Nosebleeds may be caused by infection, injury, allergic reaction, nose picking or an object being pushed into the nostril. Another name for nosebleed is epistaxis.

Bleeding from the nose is common in children and is usually not serious. Seek medical attention if nosebleeds are severe, frequent or prolonged.

Blood vessels in the nose are fragile

The small blood vessels in the septum (the firm tissue between the nostrils, which divides the nose into two halves) are fragile and can burst fairly easily, causing a nose bleed.

In children, the nose tends to bleed from only one side (unilateral).

Children usually grow out of the condition. If the bleeding is very heavy, prolonged or does not stop with first aid measures, take your child to a doctor or a hospital emergency department.

Symptoms of nosebleeds

The signs and symptoms of a nosebleed include:

• bleeding from either or both nostrils
• a sensation of flowing liquid at the back of the throat
• the urge to swallow frequently.

Causes of nosebleeds

A nosebleed can be caused by a range of factors, including:

• fragile blood vessels that bleed easily, perhaps in warm dry air or after exercise
• an infection of the nose lining, sinuses or adenoids
• an allergy that causes hay fever or coughing
• bumps or falls
• an object that has been pushed up the nostril
• nose picking
• occasionally, a bleeding or clotting problem.

First aid management for nosebleeds

To manage a nosebleed include:

• Reassure the person, especially children, as crying increases blood flow.
• Sit the person up straight and drop their head slightly forward.
• Apply finger and thumb pressure on the soft part of nostrils below the bridge of the nose for at least 10 minutes.
• Encourage the person to breathe through their mouth while their nostrils are pinched.
• Loosen tight clothing around the neck.
• Place a cold cloth or cold pack over the person’s forehead and one around the neck, especially around the sides of the neck.
• After 10 minutes, release the pressure on the nostrils and check to see if the bleeding has stopped.
• If bleeding persist, seek medical aid.
• Tell the person not to sniff or blow their nose for at least 15 minutes and not to pick their nose for the rest of the day. (Having a nose full of clotted blood is unpleasant and children in particular may find it difficult to avoid sniffing or nose blowing for a few hours. Fifteen minutes will at least give some time for the clot to stabilise.)

You should go to the doctor or a hospital emergency department if the bleeding does not stop after simple first aid management. It is important to find and treat the cause of ongoing bleeding.

Frequent nosebleeds

If your child keeps having nosebleeds, see your doctor as the cause needs to be understood and treatment commenced. For example, if the cause is an ongoing infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic ointment or medicine. Very occasionally, a child loses so much blood that this causes other health problems, such as anaemia.

Where to get help

• Your doctor
• NURSE-ON-CALL Tel. 1300 606 024 – for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
• The nearest hospital emergency department

Things to remember

• Bleeding from the nose is common in children and is usually not a sign of any underlying problem.
• First aid treatment includes pinching the nostrils until the bleeding stops.
• If the nosebleed won’t stop, see a doctor or go to a hospital emergency department.

• Australian First Aid, 2012, 4th Edition, St John Ambulance Australia.

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This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

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Bleeding from your nose, also known as a nosebleed, is very common, especially in children and in people over 65. The medical term for a nosebleed is ‘epistaxis.’ There are several causes of nosebleeds but they are only rarely concerning.

Nosebleeds can be distressing for children, but usually they can be easily stopped with first aid and don’t cause any longer lasting problems.

What symptoms are related to nosebleeds?

If a nosebleed is caused by a foreign object up the nose, there may also be pain or itching, a smelly discharge from one nostril and bad breath in addition to the bleeding.

If your nosebleed is caused by hay fever, you may also have a runny, itchy or congested nose, sneezing and itchy or watery eyes.

If, apart from a nosebleed, you also have symptoms like tiredness, anaemia (making you pale, weak and breathless), repeated infections and lots of bruising, you may have a blood disorder.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the nosebleeds Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What causes nosebleeds?

Nosebleeds are caused when the tiny blood vessels on the inside of your nose start to bleed.

Nosebleeds can occur if you:

• pick your nose
• blow your nose too hard
• strain too hard on the toilet
• have an infection in the nose, throat or sinuses
• have a cold
• receive a bump, knock or blow to the head or face
• have a stuffy nose from a cold or allergy
• are taking some types of medicines, such as anti-inflammatories, blood thinners or nose sprays
• are in hot or cold weather with low humidity

Nosebleeds are more common if you have some medical conditions like allergies, leukaemia, nasal polyps or sinusitis.

You are more likely to get nosebleeds when you are pregnant.

Children often like to experiment by pushing items up their noses. This can make their nose bleed.

In people over the age of 50, nosebleeds sometimes arise from deeper blood vessels in the nose/face and the bleeding can be quite heavy and difficult to stop. You should go to the emergency department for any heavy or difficult-to-control nosebleeds.

How to stop a nosebleed?

A child with a nosebleed may be very frightened or distressed about it. Try to comfort and reassure your child that nosebleeds are very common and lots of other kids get them. It doesn’t mean they are ill, and they will get better very soon.

To treat a nosebleed:

1. Lean forward and firmly pinch the nose below the bridge (the bony part), for 10 minutes non-stop.
2. Then let go and see if the bleeding has stopped.
3. Don’t tilt your head backwards as the blood may go down your throat into your stomach — this can make you feel sick.
4. Breathe through your mouth and spit out any blood that enters your mouth.
5. You can put an ice pack on your forehead and the back of your neck and suck on ice cubes.

When the bleeding has stopped:

• try not to pick or blow your nose, even if it feels uncomfortable, as this may cause another nosebleed
• avoid any strenuous activity, such as playing sports, for 24 hours after the bleeding has stopped
• don’t pack the nostrils with tissues or cotton wool

If bleeding starts again, repeat the advice above.

If a nosebleed is very heavy and does not stop after 15 minutes of non-stop pressure, you need to go to your nearest emergency department. It may be necessary for a doctor or nurse to apply a topical medication or stop the blood vessel from bleeding by burning or freezing it. Sometimes it’s necessary to pack your nose with dressings to stop the bleeding.

If you have a facial injury and cannot put pressure on your nose to stop the bleeding, visit your nearest emergency department for further treatment.

If your child has an object up their nose, don’t try to remove the object yourself. Take your child to your doctor or an emergency department straightaway.

If the object falls back into the throat and you or your child start to choke, call an ambulance on triple zero (000). If the object contains chemicals (like a button battery) or is a bean (which can swell) you should go to the Emergency Department immediately.

When should I see my doctor?

Most nosebleeds are usually mild and do not last long. You don’t need to see a doctor.

Seek emergency medical help if:

• you are injured
• there is very heavy bleeding
• you are having trouble breathing
• the nosebleed lasts longer than 15 minutes
• a child younger than 2 has a nosebleed
• you are taking blood thinning medication
• you are vomiting blood

Nosebleeds can be a nuisance but are usually nothing to worry about. However, frequent, persistent or unusually heavy nosebleeds should be discussed with your doctor as they may want to investigate that there is no underlying medical condition which is causing the bleeds.

If you suspect that your child’s nosebleeds are caused by any type of violence rather than by accident, you should seek help from a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Consider talking to your doctor, community nurse, emergency department or school nurse.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How are nosebleeds diagnosed?

Nosebleeds are usually diagnosed from looking at your symptoms. The doctor will ask some questions and do a short examination to try to identify the cause of the nosebleed.

If you have frequent nosebleeds or certain risk factors, your doctor may want to investigate further. They may order blood tests and refer you to a specialist, for example, an ear, nose and throat specialist.

Can nosebleeds be prevented?

In some cases, nosebleeds may be preventable. It depends on the cause. For example, if nosebleeds are caused by nose picking, then they can be stopped by not picking the nose.

If your nosebleeds persist and become a problem, you may need treatment, such as surgery to cauterise (burn) the blood vessels in the nose. Talk to your doctor about your options.

After you have had a nosebleed, try not to pick your nose. Instead, blow it gently. Prevent the inside of your nose from drying out by using a humidifier or putting a small amount of lubricant cream like Vaseline or paw paw ointment inside your nose. Ensure you have washed your hands before applying the lubricant cream.

Drinking plenty of fluids and eating fibre will prevent constipation, so you won’t strain on the toilet which may start another nosebleed.