Nosebleeds in Children
HEAL
This information has been translated into other languages – see the links at the bottom of this page.
Key Points
- Nosebleeds are very common in children and are usually not serious
- Nose picking and dry air are the two most common causes of nosebleeds
- Treat a nosebleed by keeping your child calm, sitting up and leaning forward with firm pressure on the soft part of their nose for at least 20 minutes
- Prevent nosebleeds by moisturizing inside the nose, using humidifiers and telling your child not to pick their nose
What Is It?
The nasal septum is the thin wall between the two nostrils. It has lots of sensitive blood vessels and can bleed very easily. A nosebleed happens when the septum is dry, picked at or injured. Nosebleeds in children are quite common and usually not serious.
What Causes a Nosebleed?
The most common causes of nosebleeds include:
- Nose picking – children tend to pick their noses when the air is dry and the mucous in their nose becomes crusty
- Dry air – this is especially common in dry climates, or areas that use lots of indoor heating
Other, less common causes of nosebleeds include:
- Injuries to the nose
- Foreign object in the nose (ie: children putting small objects like beads in their nose)
- Infections that cause lots of nose-blowing and forceful sneezing
- Medications that dry out the nose, like nose sprays
- Medications that prevent blood clotting (ie: aspirin, blood thinners)
- Irritants like cigarette smoke or chemical fumes
Symptoms
Nosebleeds usually occur suddenly either after any direct injury to the nose or while children are sleeping.
While they can appear frightening, they are typically not painful and the bleeding is only from the front part of the nose.
Sometimes children will swallow some blood that can irritate their stomach – if they vomit they may have a small amount of red/brown blood in their vomit.
If your child has frequent nosebleeds and symptoms like easy bruising, gum bleeding, looking pale or being more tired than usual they should be seen by a doctor.
Treatment
How can you help your child if they have a nosebleed?
At Home
When a child has a nosebleed it often looks like a lot of blood, but most nosebleeds are not life threatening. You can easily treat most nosebleeds at home by following these steps:
- Stay calm – this will help keep your child calm as well
- Have your child sit upright in a chair or in your lap
- Help your child lean forward – this prevents blood from going down their throat. Swallowed blood can irritate the stomach and cause vomiting.
- Using your thumb and index finger, squeeze firmly along the soft part of the nose just below the bony ridge.
- Keep constant pressure for at least 20 minutes without interruption. If you take away the pressure too soon, the nose may start to bleed again.
- After 20 minutes, check for bleeding. If it is still bleeding, apply pressure for another 10 minutes.
- Once the nosebleed has stopped, have your child play quietly and make sure they do not pick or rub their nose for the next few hours
In Hospital
If your child’s nosebleed lasts more than 20 to 30 minutes, they should see a doctor. The doctor can look for where the bleeding is coming from. Doctors can perform nasal packing to help manage the nosebleed. Nasal packing is where gauze-like material is put in the nose to help put pressure on the blood vessels and control the bleeding. Packing is usually left in place for 24 to 48 hours and removed by a doctor.
If your child has repeated nosebleeds, they may be referred to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist to look in their nose and recommend different treatments to help control the problem.
How Can I Prevent Nosebleeds?
- Keep your child’s nails short to prevent nose picking
- Try to increase the humidity in your home, or get a cool-mist humidifier for your child’s room
- Add some moisture to your child's nose by using an over the counter nasal lubricant
- After a nosebleed, encourage your child to do quieter activities for one to two days. They should avoid lifting, straining or high intensity exercise/sports
- Limit medications like nasal sprays
When To Get Help
Call 911 anytime you think your child may need emergency care.
Seek immediate medical attention if:
- The bleeding cannot be stopped with 20 to 30 minutes of continuous, firm pressure
- Your child feels light-headed or dizzy after a nosebleed
- If your child is at risk for bleeding because of a medical condition (such as liver disease, anemia, or hemophilia) or medication (blood thinners, anti-inflammatories)
Know your options
It can be scary when your child is sick. But in most cases, you don’t need to go to the emergency department. If you’re unsure, visit ahs.ca/options to learn about the options so you can get the care you need.
About AHS HEAL
The Alberta Health Services HEAL (Health Education and Learning) program was created by a team of doctors, nurses and other clinical staff who work at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and the Stollery Children’s Hospital, to support families and patients with up-to-date and useful information about common childhood health concerns. Learn more at ahs.ca/heal.
To see this information online and learn more, visit: ahs.ca/heal/page12432.aspx
Other languages
Nosebleeds in children: HEAL
For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.
Current as of: March 1, 2023
Author: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Alberta Health Services
This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.
