mothernature

Chapter List

Shop Our Stores
Special Limited Time Offer!
Order today and
Save an Extra 15%!
Use coupon code: LSAVE15
Save 15%


Nosebleeds Staunch Techniques to Stop the Flow



NOSEBLEEDS

Staunch Techniques to Stop the Flow

It can be a horrifying experience for a small child--and for a parent. Small noses can produce alarming amounts of blood, and all that unexplained blood can scare the bravest of kids.

'Once my five-year-old son woke up in the middle of the night to find his pillow, pajamas and face covered with blood,' recalls Cynthia Sloan, a suburban Philadelphia mother of three. 'His screams brought me running. It only took a second to know why he was so terrified--it looked like a massacre had occurred in his bed.'

But nosebleeds are seldom anything to worry about. 'They almost always look worse than they are,' says Orval Brown, M.D., associate professor of otolaryngology and chairman of the Division of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Most nosebleeds in children are the result of too vigorous blowing, an accidental smack in the nose during rough-and-tumble play or some reckless picking with a sharp-nailed finger. 'The scratch that causes all that blood is usually minor,' says Jonas Johnson, M.D., professor of otolaryngology and vice chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and most nosebleeds can be stemmed easily at home.

MEDICAL ALERT

When to See the Doctor

Even though a nosebleed is rarely serious, there are times when a doctor's care is warranted, says Susan Fuchs, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and an attending physician in the emergency department of the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

If your child bruises easily or there's a history of clotting problems in your family, alert your doctor about your child's nosebleeds. They could be a sign of a bleeding disorder.

And some nosebleeds require prompt medical care. Head for the emergency room or call your regular doctor if:

* You cannot stop the nosebleed.

* Nosebleeds are frequent and last longer than 15 minutes.

* Your child has trouble breathing.

* Your child has bleeding from other places, such as the gums.

* The nosebleed begins after a blow to the head.

But once the bleeding has stopped, your job still isn't over. 'Complete healing requires seven to ten days,' says Dr. Johnson. During that time you'll want to take preventive steps to help keep the scab in your child's nose intact and avoid another nosebleed.

Here's what the experts recommend to stop the flow and help prevent recurrences.

Treatment

Reassure your child. First, make sure you remain calm. 'If your child sees that you're upset and scared, he will be, too,' says Dr. Johnson. Explain to your child in calm tones that the nosebleed isn't serious and that you can stop it quickly with your child's help.

Try a nasal spray decongestant. If you have one on hand, you could try an over-the-counter product such as Neo-Synephrine or Afrin. These are vasoconstrictors that shrink blood vessels and help a scab form, says Dr. Johnson. 'This may help speed up the process,' he says.

Pinch the nose shut. With your child upright in a chair or in your lap, gently squeeze the soft part of the nose shut with a tissue or clean washcloth, says Dr. Johnson--or have your child do it. 'Holding the nose shut firmly for ten minutes will almost always stop the bleeding,' he says. 'The aim is to get a clot to form at the site of the injury.'

Be sure that your child doesn't lean back, which can cause blood to flow down the back of the throat. This not only tastes bad and can initiate a coughing fit, but the blood can also irritate the stomach and cause vomiting, says Dr. Brown.

Be a clock watcher. When you're holding a child and pinching his nose shut, ten minutes can seem like a long time, admits Dr. Johnson. But don't give up too soon. 'To be sure you've pinched your child's nose long enough, set a timer or sit near a clock,' he suggests. If you don't hold the nose long enough, the bleeding will start again shortly after you let go.

Chill out. In addition to holding the nose shut, a cold cloth against the back of the neck or bridge of the nose can constrict blood vessels and help stem the flow, says Susan Fuchs, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and an attending physician in the emergency department at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Distract your child. 'To help keep your child sitting that long with a pinched-shut nose, talk to him about what you're doing and why you're doing it,' suggests Dr. Johnson. Other ways to distract him: Read a favorite story aloud, or watch a television show or video together.

Preventive Care

Don't blow it. After your child has a nosebleed, 'don't let her blow her nose, no matter how stopped-up it feels,' says Dr. Fuchs. 'The simple act of blowing the nose can dislodge the delicate clot and start the bleeding all over again.'

Curb physical activity. For several hours after the nosebleed has stopped, keep your child quiet and inactive. And ask your child not to run hard or to do things like hang upside down from the monkey bars until the damaged nose is completely healed--at least a week later. 'Strenuous activity increases the pressure on blood vessels and can cause the nosebleed to start up again,' says Dr. Johnson.

Discourage picking or rubbing. 'Picking is probably what started the whole mess,' says Dr. Fuchs, admitting that keeping a child from nose-picking is no easy task. 'Even rubbing the nose, which will feel itchy as it's healing, can start the bleeding again,' she adds. You can trim your child's nails to lessen the damage. If your child tends to pick in his sleep, slip socks or gloves on the hands at bedtime to help prevent another bleeding episode.

Humidify your home. Homes with dry heat can also dry out the nasal passages, making nosebleeds more likely. 'A vaporizer can help in those cases,' says Dr. Fuchs. Make sure you clean the vaporizer often, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Keep it moist. To humidify your child's nose directly, use a saline solution, suggests Dr. Brown. 'Add ¼ teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water, and put it in a nasal spray bottle that has been washed out,' he says. Warm the bottle under running hot water until it's body temperature, and then spray three or four spritzes inside your child's nose. You can also purchase saline nasal spray at the drugstore, says Dr. Brown. The only drawback of the homemade solution is that it won't keep more than three days.



Shop with Us
Brands A-Z
Products A-Z
Autoship
Ways to Shop
Member Discounts
Customer Service
Contact Us
Help Desk
Shipping Policy
Return Policy
Ask a question
Track Your Order
My Account
My Account
My Order History
My Shopping Cart
Health Library
Vitamin Guide
Guide to Herbs
Health Concerns
Home Remedies
Seniors Health
Women's Health
About Us
Our Blog
Our Philosophy
Corporate Discounts
Affliliate Program
Terms of Use
Featured Partners
Blue Cross Blue Shield
United Health Care
Rodale
Email Sign up
Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!
Retail Council naturalProductsAssc NexTag Seller PriceGrabber starfield creditcards

Call us M-F 9am-5pm: 1-800-439-5506

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Information about each product is taken from the labels of the products or from the manufacturer's advertising material. MotherNature is not responsible for any statements or claims that various manufacturers make about their products. We cannot be held responsible for typographical errors or product formulation changes. You should read carefully all product packaging. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.All discounts are taken from suggested retail prices. Prices are subject to change.

Please see our Terms of Use
Copyright © 1995-2012 MotherNature All rights reserved.