What are they?
Nosebleeds are common in children and the elderly. They can be scary but are rarely dangerous or a cause for concern. The nose is particularly susceptible to bleeding because it has lots of tiny blood vessels that lie close to the surface of the skin, making them prone to injury. In most cases bleeding comes from one nostril and lasts around five to 15 minutes, followed by a blood-tinged mucus that can last for a couple of days.
What are they caused by?
The most common cause of nosebleeds in children is the combined dryness from indoor heat in winter and nose picking. Picking becomes more frequent when mucus in the nose becomes dry and itchy. Other likely factors are injury to the nose, sneezing, and vigorous nose blowing which can trigger bleeding. Other less common causes include:
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