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Nosebleeds are not usually a sign of anything serious. They're common, particularly in children, and most can be easily treated at home.
The GP might want to test you for haemophilia or for other conditions like anaemia.
You have a nosebleed and:
The inside of the nose is easy to damage and that's when nosebleeds happen. This can be caused by:
Nosebleeds that need medical attention can come from deeper inside the nose and usually affect adults. They can be caused by:
Sometimes the cause of a nosebleed is unknown.
Certain people are more likely to getting nosebleeds, including:
If you have a nosebleed, you should:
Holding an icepack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on the top of the nose may help reduce the blood flow. But the evidence to show it works is not very strong.
If you have a nosebleed and a doctor can see where the blood is coming from, they may use a stick with a chemical on it to stop the bleeding. This is pushed into the nostril to seal the area.
If this is not possible, they might pack your nose with ribbon gauze or sponge, to stop the bleeding. You may need to stay in hospital for a day or two.
When your nosebleed stops, a doctor may prescribe an antiseptic cream to use inside your nose. This stops crusting, or scabs forming. Check the cream's ingredients first, as it may not be suitable if you have a peanut or soya allergy.
After a nosebleed, to reduce the chance of another nosebleed, try not to do the following for 24 hours:
