Ask the Doc: My child is prone to nosebleeds – should I be worried?
My child is prone to nosebleeds, should I be worried?
Nosebleeds are common in children between 2 and 10. Nosebleeds are often caused by nose picking- which wee ones can be prone to doing at times.
Nosebleeds can be frightening, but they aren't usually a sign of anything serious and can often be treated at home. To stop a nosebleed:
sit down and firmly pinch the soft part of the nose, just above the nostrils, for at least 10-15 minutes
leaning forward and breathing through the mouth can help – this will drain blood into the nose instead of down the back of the throat
place an ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables covered by a towel on the bridge of your nose
stay upright, rather than lying down, as this reduces the blood pressure in the blood vessels of your nose and will discourage further bleeding
If the bleeding eventually stops, you won't usually need to seek medical advice.
Generally nosebleeds are nothing to be worried about, however, if your child is under two, or your child is having nosebleeds that come and go regularly, you should speak with your GP, or call 111 when the GP is not available
I won't be able to attend the hairdressers for a while so I've invested in some home hair dye, but I'm worried about allergies. What do I need to be aware of before attempting this at home?
In the absence of attending hairdressers, lots of us are reaching for home hair dyes. Although it feels convenient you should be aware of the possibilities of an allergic reaction. The best way to avoid a reaction is to do a patch test, by putting a small amount of the dye either behind your ear or inner elbow to make sure you can spot any of the symptoms of an allergic reaction. These include:
sneezing and an itchy, runny or blocked nose (allergic rhinitis)
itchy, red, watering eyes (conjunctivitis)
wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and a cough
a raised, itchy, red rash (hives)
swollen lips, tongue, eyes or face
tummy pain, feeling sick, vomiting or diarrhoea
dry, red and cracked skin
If you do have an allergic reaction to a home dye kit, you should speak with your pharmacist about treatment- they may prescribe an antihistamine. Further info on allergies and treatment is available on NHS Inform.
