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Does anyone have a child who gets a lot of nosebleeds?

My 3 year old son has been having frequent nosebleeds for the past year. They come and go in spurts - one week he'll have several bad days, and then he'll be clear for 3 weeks or so and then bad again. Sometimes they are associated with colds or sinus congestion; sometimes they are associated with high humidity days in the summer; and they seem to occur more often whenever the weather is unsettled - expecting a huge snowstorm or thunderstorms later in the day. I've talked to several doctors and they keep saying there's nothing to worry about, or that it would have to be really severe and then an ENT would cauterize his blood vessels. But it's so hard for me to see my little guy suddenly crying with his face covered in blood, and then all the extra work cleaning bedding, carpets, clothes, upholstery. Does anyone have advice for how to help treat/prevent nosebleeds, or for how to get the stains out? Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Pat Gohn on May 27, 2011 at 10:02pm

Been there, done that. Even, yes, had a cautery done on a very young nose -- around age 5. And that took care of it, but be sure to use a reputable ENT who specializes in pediatric cases. There are chemical cauteries and, yes, "electrical" ones. Mostly chemical cauteries are done on children from what I remember.

Try keeping a humidifier on in the house-- read: keep moisture in the air. A vaporizer at night might help keep the mucous membranes moist. Talk to your pediatrician to see if there is any over-the-counter remedies to help keep the moisture going... such as saline sprays, or an occasional swab (very lightly) of petroleum jelly (see this article on vaseline: http://www.webmd.boots.com/children/baby/nosebleeds-in-children-vas...) on the inside of the nostril. Or an anti-septic cream like this one: http://www.webmd.boots.com/children/nosebleeds-in-children-antisept.... I am not a doc, so talk to the pediatrician as to your child's needs.

Try keeping a boo-boo box at the ready that has exactly what works for your child's relief/care of the nosebleeds. And try to be non-chalant about it... like, it's ok honey, we'll take care of it. Treat him as normal as possible. In time, the child will most likely be non-chalant about it too, and bring you the boo-boo box when the dripping starts!

One last thing... keep fingernails cut short! Nose-picking doesn't help!

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Permalink Reply by leanne maree osullivan on July 17, 2011 at 4:17am

I have had 2 children who get nose bleeds. They are bought on my various thinks. Often the heat. Stress and intense cold.

Our youngest dd 13 still getsthem, but rarely needs my help now. She just tells me she had one.

It seems to be the delicate mucous membranes in there nasal cavity.

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Permalink Reply by Cathy Donahue on September 8, 2011 at 12:00pm

TOTALLY! Everyone in my family has frequent nosebleeds. With us it is allergy related.

Me, my brothers, my Dad, my cousins, we all get them. We combat ours with allergy medicine. Mostly it's spring pollen related, though sometimes we get them in the fall. My Dad gets them with smelly soaps/perfume. The petroleum jelly mentioned will also help.

Cathy D.

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Permalink Reply by melissa simmons on September 13, 2011 at 3:51pm

I had nosebleed all the time growing up, had my nose packed with gauze to dry it up then cauterized,ouch! Didnt help, i outgrew them around age 18.My 16 year old son gets them,when fall comes around, just like it did. When you come in from the cold, it just pours.I read somewhere to put gauze on the inside of your upper lip on your gum, it seems to help, i guess applying the pressure there works.

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Permalink Reply by elizabeth arendale on October 28, 2011 at 11:27am

my little sister used to get them lots. she still gets them every so often (she is 30 now). she has noticed that they coincide with her cycle. also they are worse when she eats foods that are triggers(allergens).