Few things cause a parent to jump out of their chair faster than seeing their child with a face full of blood. It?s graphic. It?s scary. It causes a visceral reaction in both parent and child. The good news is, nosebleeds in kids are common and usually harmless. (The bad news is that shirt may never be the same again.)
What causes nosebleeds in kids
Anyone can get a nosebleed, including teenagers and adults?but they tend to be most common in kids ages three to 10, says Baltimore paediatrician Ashanti Woods. Why" Because kids are nose-pickers. That?s right, one of the main causes of nosebleeds is shoving a finger up there. (I can attest to this by the not one, but two times my toddler used a swift finger up my nose as my wake-up call.) ?Most nosebleeds are caused by nasal trauma?picking the nose, frequent blowing of the nose, or a direct injury or blow to the nose such as dodgeball,? says Woods. ?The nose is full of very fragile blood vessels so sometimes even rubbing it from outside too vigorously (as in the case of seasonal allergies) can lead to a bloody nose.?
Dry air can also irritate the lining of the nose and cause a nosebleed. Just as your skin is more prone to cracking and bleeding when it is dried out, so is your nose. When the lining is dry, minor rubbing or scratching is enough to start a bleed.
How to stop a nosebleed
Unfortunately, like vomit and snot, nosebleeds are one of those unpleasant childhood experiences that you?re likely to get the joy of experi...