Nosebleed - symptom

Alternative names:

bleeding from the nose; epistaxis

Definition:

Bleeding from the nose.

Considerations:

An abundant supply of tiny blood vessels makes the nose particularly vulnerable to bleeding.

Air moving through the nose can dry and irritate the mucous membranes. This forms crusts which bleed when removed by rubbing, picking, or blowing the nose.

The large majority of nosebleeds are associated with minor injuries to the nose or with common colds.

Nosebleeds occur more frequently in the winter when viruses are common and heated indoor air dries out the nostrils. A cooler house and a vaporizer, to return humidity to the air, help many people with frequent nosebleeds.

Common causes:

• nose picking
• trauma (such as a broken nose) or irritation
• vigorous nose blowing
• in children, a foreign body lodged in the nose
• allergic rhinitis
• repeated sneezing
• upper respiratory infection (see specific respiratory diseases)
• barotrauma
• chemical irritants
• drugs (such as anticoagulants or anti-inflammatories)
• facial and nasal surgery

Note: There may be other causes of nosebleeds. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for nosebleeds, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.