Understanding Chronic Epistaxis: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Nosebleeds, or epistaxis, is bleeding from the tissue inside the nose and are common. Most nosebleeds are not serious. An anterior nosebleed comes from the septum and is the most common type, resulting from bleeding in the capillaries and small blood vessels in the front of the nose. If the bleeding is from the back of the nose, it is caused due to bleeding from large vessels, which could result in heavy bleeding, and may require medical treatment. Risk factors include dry air, colds, allergies, septal deviation, trauma, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, bleeding disorders, pregnancy, and taking blood thinners.

47 Alikes with Chronic Epistaxis

Learn from others
who are experiencing
Chronic Epistaxis.

Join Now

Signs & symptoms

Mild to heavy nosebleed.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on symptoms review and medical exam, focusing on the nose area by using a speculum to hold the nostril open and an endoscope to see inside the nasal passages. . Further tests may include Xray, CT scans, and blood tests.

Treatment

Treatment can usually be done at home by sitting upright and leaning slightly forward, using a tissue to catch the blood, squeezing the nose to stop the bleeding, and decongestant spray. Other treatments include cauterization, foreign body removal, surgical repair, ligation of blood vessels and medicine replacement.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

Learn more about our editorial process for content accuracy.

Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital