Nosebleeds (epistaxis) in children are a common occurence. It is important when seeing a child with nosebleeds that a full history and careful examination should be udertaken. It is important that imporatant diagnosis such as a foreign body in the nose is excluded as well as any other serious pathology.

Commonly a small vein or an area of irritation from nose picking is the cause. It is quite common practice is to use naseptin ointment in the first instance. If it is evidently a small vein easily seen then it is sensible to cauterise this. It is very unusual to have to cauterise a childs nose under general anaesthesia this is most often done in the out-patient setting.

At home basic first aid should be employed. If this fails a child should be taken to the emergency department for further treatment and investigation