Nosebleed
Bleeding from the nose / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A nosebleed, also known as epistaxis, is an instance of bleeding from the nose.[1] Blood can flow down into the stomach, and cause nausea and vomiting.[8] In more severe cases, blood may come out of both nostrils.[9] Rarely, bleeding may be so significant that low blood pressure occurs.[1] Blood may also come up the nasolacrimal duct and out from the eye.[10]
Nosebleed | |
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Other names | Epistaxis, bloody nose, nasal hemorrhage[1] |
A three-year-old child with a minor nosebleed from falling and hitting his face on the floor | |
Pronunciation |
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Specialty | Otorhinolaryngology |
Symptoms | Bleeding from the nose[1] |
Usual onset | Less than 10 and over 50 years old[2] |
Risk factors | Trauma, excessive nose picking, certain infections, blood thinners, high blood pressure, alcoholism, seasonal allergies, dry weather[3] |
Diagnostic method | Direct observation[1] |
Differential diagnosis | Bleeding from the lungs, esophageal varices,[1] vomiting blood |
Prevention | Petroleum jelly in the nose[4] |
Treatment | Pressure over the lower half of the nose, nasal packing, endoscopy[5] |
Medication | Tranexamic acid[6] |
Frequency | 60% at some point in time[7] |
Deaths | Rare[3] |
Risk factors include trauma, including putting the finger in the nose, blood thinners, high blood pressure, alcoholism, seasonal allergies, dry weather, and inhaled corticosteroids.[3] There are two types: anterior, which is more common; and posterior, which is less common but more serious.[3] Anterior nosebleeds generally occur from Kiesselbach's plexus while posterior bleeds generally occur from the sphenopalatine artery or Woodruff's plexus.[3] The diagnosis is by direct observation.[1]
Prevention may include the use of petroleum jelly in the nose.[4] Initially, treatment is generally the application of pressure for at least five minutes over the lower half of the nose.[5] If this is not sufficient, nasal packing may be used.[5] Tranexamic acid may also be helpful.[6] If bleeding episodes continue, endoscopy is recommended.[5]
About 60% of people have a nosebleed at some point in their life.[7] About 10% of nosebleeds are serious.[7] Nosebleeds are rarely fatal, accounting for only 4 of the 2.4 million deaths in the U.S. in 1999.[11] Nosebleeds most commonly affect those younger than 10 and older than 50.[2]