Nosebleed - Epistaxis

Very low urgency
Common-

Bleeding from the nose. It is very common and does not usually have serious implications, but if it persists or is very intense, it may produce severe symptoms.

It may be caused by a trauma, sinusitis, mucosa dryness, cold, as well as blood clotting disorders. The nose region has many blood vessels which makes bleeding more likely.

The diagnosis is clinical through questioning to find out what originated the episode and a full physical examination.

The triggering cause will be treated: lesions, drugs, etc. It is generally controlled by applying a plug that compresses the bleeding site. If the nose bleed does not stop after 20 minutes, a doctor should be consulted in case another type of plug is required or to correct blood coagulation abnormalities, although this is not common.

Bibliographic references
  1. Harrison Alter, MD, MS, FACEP. Approach to the adult with epistaxis. UpToDate. Feb 02, 2016.
  2. Anna H Messner, MD. Evaluation of epistaxis in children. UpToDate. Sep07, 2016.
  3. Riviello RJ. Otolaryngologic procedures. In: Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine, 4th, Roberts JR, Hedges JR. (Eds), WB Saunders, Philadelphia 2004. p.1300.
  4. Konkle BA. Hemorragia y trombosis. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna. Volumen 2. 19º Edición: 403.
  5. Chacón Martinez J. Padilla Parrado M. Epistaxis. Manual de protocolos y actuación en urgencias. Hospital Virgen de la Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Tercera edición. 2010: 1133-1137.
Author
Dr. Sara Vitoria
Copyright
© TeckelMedical 2026

Symptoms

    Nosebleed


    Dryness of the lining of the nose


    Swelling of mucous membrane


    High blood pressure during consultation

Symptoms to watch out for

Abundant nasal bleeding that doesn't stop with local compression
If accompanied by a hit to the head
If accompanied by an injury in the nose
Previous episodes of nosebleeds that have required medical attention
History of anticoagulant use

Self-care

Sit down and gently squeeze the soft portion of the nose.
Lean forward to avoid swallowing blood and breathe through your mouth.
Wait for 10 minutes and assess if the bleeding has stopped.
Avoid lying down while bleeding.