Frequent nose bleeds in a 4 year old

[Chocaholic]

My 4 year old son seems to constantly get blood noses and they take at least 5 minutes to stop. He is really good with them but they are starting to worry me.

We have had 5 today. This is a lot but he has had a fever for the last 2 days so I am attributing it to that.

Has anyone else's child have such frequent nose bleeds and did they grow out of them? Do you think I should get it checked out at the GP? I have read the advice from the State Govt website and they said it was not unusual in some children but that doesn't make me feel better.

[Calluna]

If it's worrying you then yes, I'd get it checked out. If nothing else it will give you some peace of mind. s to you and your poor little guy. Hope it's nothing and he grows out of it quickly.

[*Sparklez*]

my son used to get them when ever he sneezed or blew his nose too hard or went on a swing n went to fast really weird stuff n he was getting really bad.. it was from all the lil vessels in his nose would burst from certain pressures n gravity
it used to stress me out cus everywhere we went the red river would follow (thats wat my ds called it lol)
he grew out of it though his 9 now n rarely gets them
but if ur worried get it checked it wont hurt too jus in case,,,

[UntoldAngel]

I had frequent nosebleeds as a child and at age 7 I had it cauterised (they burn the blood vessels). Stopped it for about 5 years then I started getting them again. I use to get nosebleeds if my brothers hit me on the arm! Mine would last for at least half an hour in every occasion.
Warm weather, warm winds, temperatures, and excessive irritations can all contribute as the blood vessels are easily broken.
You could get a referral to an ent specialist and they will try and see if they can find the culprit vessel.
Hope they settle down soon, they're not nice

[Beach Mama]

Izzy would get them alot as well although she seems to be growing out of them a bit now (3.5).I was worried about them too and took her to the Dr and as ZA mentioned it is because she has a thin capillary close to the surface that tends to burst if she picks her nose, gets a fever or too hot etc. They can cauterise them to stop it happening but I was told her nose was till too tiny to do it and if she was still getting them at aroudn 5 to go back. Might be worth going to get it checked. If he bleeds for long periods of time (like over 15 mins I think) and LOTS of blood then I think it is a bit more of a worry. not nice when you see them bleeding all over the place and it sounds like your DS is like my girl - so patient, even in the middle of the night, she will go "MUM BLOOD NOSE" and just sit up without crying half sleeping while I sit her up and mop it up.

[Chocaholic]

it sounds like your DS is like my girl - so patient, even in the middle of the night, she will go "MUM BLOOD NOSE" and just sit up without crying half sleeping while I sit her up and mop it up.

That is exactly how my DS is. Considering he tends to cry or get upset quite easily, it seems amazing he handles this so well.

I think I will make an appointment with my GP next week.

[helle]

I get nose bleeds in summer. As someone said it's the blood vessels close to the surface.
Drs can give them a zap to help "seal" them if you're worried.

[LimeSlice]

Just thought I would post...
I was having a terrible time with nose bleeds a few years ago...took us a looong time to narrow it down, but they were being caused by the sodium metabisulphate they use as a preservative in Cottee's cordials.
It only takes one glass of Cottee's and I will have random nosebleeds within a few hours. Since stopping consuming sodium metabisulphate, I have had none.
(It is used as a preservative, also as an industrial cleaner and sterilising agent)

Hope you find the cause and they stop soon!

[Beach Mama]

Wow Limey that is amazing, frightening though too when you think about what we eat and drink at times without thinking.

Helle - Can they do it with little kids? My GP told me her nose was so tiny that it was best to wait??

[Rivlas]

My DD2 used to get a blood nose every day and not just one. She is no in her 20 and we only get a few a month.

We we told to put her feet in tepid water and this did work to slow the bleed. A cool washer on the back of the neck also helps.
She had some zaps but they only worked on some vessels.

Get checked out by a GP and let them know how often and how long.

[Chocaholic]

We we told to put her feet in tepid water and this did work to slow the bleed. A cool washer on the back of the neck also helps.

I have never heard about the feet in the tepid water but the cool washer on the back of the neck usually works. Also a cool washer on his forehead works, too most of the time.

[LimeSlice]

Wow Limey that is amazing, frightening though too when you think about what we eat and drink at times without thinking.

Lots of preservative and colours can cause things like nose bleeds... Suplhates are in everything from red wine and chocolate to dried fruit you think is healthy or safe to eat. There is only one brand of dried Sultanas I have found that uses olive oil instead of 200 or 220.
Nasty stuff!

[Ambah]

My DS was also a frequent nose bleeder. From about the age of 18 months till 5yo he would get them allll the time, and in summer it would be multiple times per day. We were on the waiting list for an ENT appt last year, but in the months leading up to his appt, his nosebleeds reduced by heaps, so I didn't think it was pressing enough to consider having his nose cauterized. These days he still gets a few, but much milder and more infrequent.
One GP once suggested Nasonex cream to me. I think it contracts the blood vessels to stop bleeds - good to use on days with frequent bleeds, however it's not something that can/should be relied on longterm. Good luck..

[Calluna]

Lots of preservative and colours can cause things like nose bleeds... Suplhates are in everything from red wine and chocolate to dried fruit you think is healthy or safe to eat. There is only one brand of dried Sultanas I have found that uses olive oil instead of 200 or 220.
Nasty stuff!

oh really? I'll be on the look out for the non 200/ 220 sultana's next time! DS eats them by the truck load.