What causes a child's nosebleed?

It is quite worrying when a child has a nosebleed. At this time, it is recommended to take the child to the hospital for a comprehensive examination. For example, acute febrile infectious diseases, external trauma, or the child often picks his nose with his hands may be the cause.

1. Acute febrile infectious diseases

Children often suffer from infectious diseases with rapid onset and high fever, especially upper respiratory tract infections. When high fever occurs, the blood vessels of the skin and mucous membranes throughout the body become congested and swollen, and the nasal mucosa also undergoes such pathological changes. Acute congestion and swelling of the nasal mucosa are more likely to cause rupture and bleeding, because the blood vessels of the nasal mucosa are superficial. Once the fever is severe, coupled with the external force of blowing the nose hard, the blood vessels under the mucosa will rupture and bleed.

2. Trauma

The nose is an organ exposed on the body surface. Once an injury occurs, such as a blow or a fall, the nose is naturally the first to be affected. Under the impact of severe trauma, the blood vessels under the mucosa will rupture and bleed.

3. Picking your nose

Strictly speaking, nose picking should also be included in the scope of trauma. Out of curiosity and discomfort, children often like to use their fingers to dig blindly in their nasal cavity. This is a bad habit that is not only unhygienic but also easily causes local nasal mucosal bleeding. The place where people usually pick their nose is at the front and lower part of the nasal septum. There are many blood vessels in this area, and many tiny blood vessels are interwoven into a network like a spider web. The blood vessels are superficial and very thin, and are located at the opening of the nasal cavity. Just digging with your hands can break the blood vessels. More than 90% of nosebleeds in children occur here.

4. Foreign bodies in the nasal cavity

Normally, there is nothing blocking the nasal cavity except some mucus produced by secretions, allowing breathing to be free and unobstructed. But sometimes, children like to put some small objects into their nasal cavity for fun, such as peanut kernels, melon seeds, fruit cores, soybeans, plastic paper, small metal toys, etc. Once these objects are stuck in the nose and become foreign bodies, the child cannot take them out by himself and dare not make any noise. Over time, they are forgotten and remain in the nasal cavity. Some foreign objects swell and mold when they come into contact with water in the nasal cavity, causing infection, erosion and bleeding of the nasal mucosa. Sometimes, due to the adverse stimulation of foreign objects, the nasal mucosa may also cause traumatic bleeding.