Parenting: Nosebleeds, How To Stop The Flow

Nosebleeds are common in young children and are seldom a cause for concern. Still the sight of all that blood can frighten even the most unflappable kids and their parents. In this Parenting Report, a pediatrician explains how you can stop the flow, properly.

It was not long ago that 8-year-old Tyler Davis could not play basketball without a nosebleed interrupting his game. It was not just sports that were affected; nosebleeds had become a common interference in his life.

Pediatrician Dr. Joseph Zanga explains that nosebleeds are common in young children and can be brought on by a dry climate, or often, a minor disturbance.

"The child who is constantly rubbing his or her nose or picking it can cause trauma to some very small blood vessels right on the little septum of the nose, the divider between both sides of the nose," said Zanga.

Here is what Tyler's pediatrician recommended: Keep the nose moist. Tyler does this by swabbing the inside with petroleum jelly, spraying each nostril with saline, and keeping his room humidified.

If a nosebleed occurs, pinch the lower, soft part of the nose for at least 10 minutes. Do not tilt back your child's head. For more severe cases like Tyler's, cauterization may be a form of treatment.

"This chemical, silver nitrate causes a little sort of a burn and seals the blood vessels," said Zanga.

Tyler now has his nose cauterized twice a year and his nosebleeds no longer interfere with his games.

Medical experts say you should call the doctor if you suspect your child's nose is broken, if he has trouble breathing or if a foreign object is stuck up his nose. Frequent nosebleeds, which last more than 15 minutes, also require medical attention.

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