Question

An 11-month-old baby suddenly bled from the nose at around 1 AM when crying for milk. The bleeding eventually stopped. What could be the cause, and what should be done?

Answer

Hello: It is recommended to take the child to the hospital for an X-ray examination. There are usually two types of causes for nosebleeds: The first is nasal mucosal damage, which is the most common cause of nosebleeds and also the main reason for habitual nosebleeds. There are three small blood vessels that intersect near the front of the nasal septum, which are very fragile and located in the superficial layer of the skin. Although the blood vessels are small, if they are accidentally pinched, fresh blood will continuously flow out. The second is inflammation of nasal granulomas. Once the granulomas become inflamed, nasal polyps will swell and cause pain. In children, sinusitis, if severe, can also lead to purulent bleeding.