NASAL BLEEDING OR EPISTAXIS : SOME USEFUL TIPS

Common problem that seen in summer in children’s and adults is nasal bleeding. This is a very frightening scene for the parents or for the teacher in schools.

This problem often present in young children’s and adults, its management is very simple but the anxiety of parents complicates the problem.

So it is important to understand that this nasal bleeding or epistaxis in medical terms presents in serious manner but it does not have serious cause. The only time it is serious when the blood loss is too much results the child goes into shock but this is rare case, bleeding stops in couple of minutes.

To understand the cause we should need to understand the anatomical formation of nose .front part of the nose called little area is home to several small blood arteries running close to surface. This area covered by moist and delicate skin. In children’s this area is very sensitive and delicate, arteries start to bleed with mild damage whether it is due to blow or expansion because of heat.

CAUSES

In children, bleeding happens more in summer than in winters. In summers because of increase temperature inner skin lining of nose becomes dry. The delicate nasal skin cracks and starts bleeding.

Trauma to the nose either by blunt object or a blow cause nasal bleeding but commonly it happens due to rubbing, scratching and picking the nose.

Deviate nasal septum from midline is another reason for bleeding, it causes deviated airflow results in drying the one sided skin and cracked, increasing the risk of bleeding.

Cold, upper respiratory tract infections, allergies causes inflammation of inner skin of nose increases the risk of bleeding.

Blowing of nose to clean is another reason of nasal bleeding.

DO’S AND DON’TS

1. Do not pick the nose.
2. Gently blow the nose to clean.
3. Sneeze with the mouth open.
4. Avoid hot and spicy foods.
5. Apply ice packs to slow down the blood flow.
6. When its bleeding , makes the child to sit in upright position so that his/her head is above the heart level . make the child to lean forward slightly and breathe through mouth so that he does not swallow blood .
7. Pinch the front part of nose for few minutes, release it to see if bleeding continues. If bleeding continues then pinch for another five minutes to ten minutes. Take medical advice if it continuous BLEED.
8. Increase intake of vitamin k rich fruits and food products like blueberries, figs, pears, cucumber, eggs.