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Medical Author:

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Nosebleeds in children can be an anxiety-provoking event, both for the parent and the child. However, most nosebleeds in children are self-limiting and benign, and can typically be managed at home. As in adults, more than 90% of nosebleeds in children originate anteriorly.

Nosebleeds in children usually occur between 2 to 10 years of age. Nosebleeds in infants, however, are unusual and require further evaluation by a health care practitioner. Though most nosebleeds in children are spontaneous and occur infrequently, some children may experience more frequent, recurrent nosebleeds.

The most common cause of nosebleeds in children is from minor trauma, typically from nose picking. Direct trauma to the nose, upper respiratory infections, nasal foreign bodies, allergic rhinitis, exposure to warm, dry air and nasal medications (for example, corticosteroids) are also other commonly encountered conditions leading to nosebleeds. Less common causes of nosebleeds in children include vascular malformations, leukemia, nasal tumors, and various blood clotting abnormalities. An accidental ingestion of blood-thinning medication (for example, warfarin [Coumadin]) is also a rare cause of nosebleeds in children.

The treatment for nosebleeds in children is similar to that of adults, which will be covered in a subsequent section. The prognosis in children is generally excellent, with nosebleeds caused by serious underlying medical conditions carrying a variable prognosis.

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