Nosebleeds or epistaxis : causes, types and treatment

Nosebleeds or epistaxis:-

• Nosebleed is the disorder in which blood comes from nose.  Nosebleed is called as epistaxis in medical term. Some times nose bleeds causes no harm but nosebleeds may also be life threatening. On the origin of blood bleed nosebleeds can be classified as:1.  Anterior nosebleed : nose bleed which occurs in the front part of nose is called anterior nosebleed. Usually bleed occurs due to rupture of small blood vessels or capillaries in nasal septum. Nasal septum is the pole like cartilaginous structure separates the nares of nose and consists of capillaries on surface.  The rupture of blood vessels in nasal septum may occur because of piercing from sharp nails, pens, pencils etc, or due to external blow as an accident or when the children falls. It may occur only in one nare.2. Posterior nosebleed : nose bleed which occurs in the inner or upper part of nose is called posterior nose bleed; occurs due to increased capillary blood pressure or during cranial injury. Blood may bleed to throat and mouth also. posterior nosebleed usually occurs in both nares. Immediate action is need to be taken.
  Causes of nosebleeds:-

  * drying of nasal mucosa leads to itching and causes bleeding. (dryness may occur due to environment or internal factors such as dehydration)
  * children may pierce with sharp objects such as pencil.
  * allergy or invasion of any external body to nose.
  * injury to nose or cranium (skull).
  * blood clotting disorders, may be due to familial history.
  * external blow to nose.
  
  How to stop an anterior nosebleed ?

  * clean the blood around nose.
  * pinch the tip of nose gently and firmly for 3 to 6 minutes.
  * tilt or rise the head slightly.
  * plug the soaked cotton balls to bleeding nose and tell the victim to breath through mouse.
  

  Treatment of nosebleed:-

  * nosebleed is treated on the basis of cause.
  * if nasal mucosa is dried due to dehydration, jelly like vaseline are applied.
  * the doctor prescribes creams such as eucerin and polysporin to stop bleed, and these creams are available without prescription.
  * if nosebleed persists for long time the ENT surgeon will see the nose with endoscope and stops nosebleed by repairing affected blood vessels.
  * cauterization is the procedure in which by using some solutions or electrical devices the physician stops the bleed.