Should I Get Help?
If your child suffers from frequent nosebleeds, you should talk to your pediatrician about possible causes. Likewise, if a nosebleed doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of pressure or packing, if there is rapid or severe bleeding, or if the child begins to feel weak or faint, you should get medical attention immediately. If the nosebleed occurs after a head trauma, it could indicate a skull fracture or serious trauma, and you should take your child to the emergency room.
Bruising
Some children and adults are more prone to bruising, or seem to bruise more easily than others, but finding yourself or a child suddenly covered in bruises can be alarming, especially if it is a new trend. In adults, taking NSAID medications - including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen -- can lead to easy bruising because they inhibit blood clotting.
Age may also contribute - as our collagen diminishes, we lose some of the protection that it offers our blood vessels from breaking, meaning that as we age, it takes less of an impact to cause a bruise than in our younger years.
Should I Get Help?
If you suddenly begin developing unexplained bruises, you may be developing a blood disorder, such as leukemia, and you should make an appointment with your doctor to discuss this and other related symptoms.
If your child suddenly begins showing bruising, especially after being left in the care of others, you should look into possible causes, including mistreatment or abuse, especially if the child is too young to tell you about any wrongdoing him or herself.