What causes a child to have a nosebleed in the middle of the night?

Parents who often take care of their babies will easily find that when the season is particularly dry, many children are prone to nosebleeds. However, many parents will encounter the phenomenon of their children having nosebleeds in the middle of the night, which makes parents particularly worried, because in the long run, frequent nosebleeds in children may lead to anemia, and the symptoms of nosebleeds at night will also have a certain impact on the child’s sleep. So let’s understand together, what is going on with children’s nosebleeds in the middle of the night?

What causes a child to have a nosebleed in the middle of the night?

When the weather is hot and dry, and people are angry, or even not well rested, their qi and blood may flow upward, leading to nasal bleeding. In addition, drinking alcohol and eating too much spicy food may also cause lung heat and nosebleeds. In addition, excessive exposure to the sun can cause blood vessels in the head to dilate, causing nosebleeds.

It depends on the age group of the person. When the weather is dry, the elderly are more likely to have blood in their nasal discharge. If an elderly person suddenly has a lot of nose bleeding that is difficult to stop, you should suspect that he or she has high blood pressure and it is best to go to the hospital for a check-up.

Nosebleeds in young people are also related to fatigue, exercise, etc. Generally speaking, patients can stop bleeding on their own. However, if you have a sudden nosebleed without any warning, it is best to go to the hospital for a check-up to rule out lesions such as nasal tumors as soon as possible.

Blow out the blood clot

Before stopping the bleeding, try to blow out the blood clot. Because the blood clot blocking the blood vessels prevents them from closing. There are elastic fibers inside blood vessels, and when you remove the clot, these elastic fibers are able to contract and close the bleeding opening. Sometimes, after blowing the nose, parents can stop the bleeding by slightly pinching the child's nose with their hands.

Gauze or wet cotton

Place a small piece of sterilized wet gauze in each nostril. You can also use Neo-Synephrine decongestant or Afrin nasal spray to wet cotton and put it in the nostrils to help stop bleeding. But some experts prefer to wet the cotton with white vinegar. The acetic acid in the vinegar will burn slightly. However, decongestants only provide temporary stagnation of bleeding, and their abuse is not recommended because they may harm the nasal membranes.

Pinch your nose

After blowing your nose (to remove blood clots) and stuffing it with cotton, pinch your nostrils together with your thumb and index finger and keep pressing for 5-7 minutes. If the bleeding still does not stop, repeat the action of stuffing cotton and pinching the nose, and continue to apply pressure for 5-7 minutes. This should stop the bleeding.

Sit up straight

Having your child lie down or with their head tilted back will draw blood down their throat. You can sit in a chair and lean forward (don't tilt your head back).

Use ice

Coldness can cause blood vessels to constrict and reduce bleeding. You can use crushed ice or a cold towel to cool your nose, neck, and cheeks.

Apply ointment

Once the nosebleed is controlled, apply some vitamin E ointment inside the nose. If vitamin E is not available, a small amount of antibiotic or steroid ointment can be used instead, applied 2 to 3 times a day. Vitamin II ointment can promote wound healing, while antibiotic or steroid ointment can destroy staphylococcus in the nasal cavity, not only relieving itching but also preventing mucus from drying up (so as not to induce the urge to pick your nose). If the nasal mucosa is painful due to dryness, you can use aloe vera or salvia miltiorrhiza ointment.

Don't pick your nose

After doing the above treatments, it is best to lie down and rest for a while, and do not do strenuous exercise for at least two days. It takes 7-10 days for the ruptured blood vessels in the nasal cavity to fully recover. The bleeding stops after the blood coagulates, and then the coagulated blood clot gradually forms a scab; if the child picks his nose again and accidentally peels off the scab, the nosebleed will recur.

Increase the humidity of the air

When a person breathes, the nasal cavity ensures that the air reaching the lungs is sufficiently moist. Therefore, when the environment is dry. The nose has to work harder. It is recommended to use a humidifier at home to supplement the air humidity. It is best to add distilled water to the humidifier to avoid impure tap water (containing impurities such as hydrochloric acid).

The above is an introduction to why children have nosebleeds in the middle of the night. After understanding it, we know that there are many reasons for this phenomenon. So in order to avoid such a thing from happening, we should usually keep the air in the child’s environment not too dry. In addition, we should also pay attention to adjusting the child’s diet. If nosebleeds occur frequently, we should consult a doctor in time.