To take DD to GP - nightly nosebleeds

[Pollaidh]

DD has been having nightly (and sometimes daily) nosebleeds for the last 2 weeks or so. She's had occasional bleeds before. I feel she probably ought to see the GP to check there's nothing more sinister, though DH used to have nosebleeds as a kid.

No routine appointments until January (!) so WIBU to take an on the day urgent appt. I don't want to take up an urgent appt, but equally don't want her to bleed nightly for another 4 weeks.

Any advice?

If these are new and accompanied by ill health and weight loss then see the GP urgently.

What age is DD? Does she have any other symptoms?

My kids get a lot of nosebleeds in winter as the air is very dry. Can you try putting a humidifier in her bedroom?

Nosebleeds are often caused by dry and cold weather (and it is definitely both of those at the moment!)

How old is she? Could she be picking her nose?

How much bleeding? Small amounts are common in dry air when the heating or dehumidifier has been on. Larger amounts may warrant further investigation.

Thanks for the replies.

She's 8. Very active. She had a D&V bug a couple of weeks ago, as we all did, and she seemed to bounce back fairly quickly. Complaining of stomach ache tonight.

Haven't noted any recent weight loss but she's always extremely skinny (though muscular) like both me and DH as children. She's pale, but seems to have lots of energy and dances/jumps/cartwheels everywhere. She's tired at the moment, probably from waking up every night, as well as the usual pre-Christmas chaos of plays, concerts etc.

Hard to tell how much bleeding, but not just a drip. Ends up smeared over bed, walls, dripping down her face, lots of clean sheets needed. But not soaking through pillows or anything. That would worry me!

Usually stops with 5 mins pressure. Once I had to alternate pressure and ice and she bled for well over an hour, maybe 2, and I was about to take her to A&E when it finally stopped. That was a one-off.

Humidifier is a good idea. I'll try a damp towel on her radiator tonight as a temporary measure.

Take her to the doc. My dd had very regular nosebleeds (5 a week) from about 4 years old. A few weeks ago at age 14 they finally cauterized her nose and she hasn't had one since.

Hot weather, cold weather, a storm brewing vomiting and a big sneeze used to cause them. She would wake in the morning with her pillow covered in blood. The doc just said that they were common and hereditary (both her dad and I had them as children) and not to worry.

Definitely get it checked out though.

My Ds's got a lot of nose bleeds in the winter-forced heating seemed to bring them on.
Saw an ENT who said that antibiotic swab up the nose had as good a success rate as cauterising (which DS1 had)
so maybe try that?

My DH had this. Took him to the docs and she said that they now think lots of nosebleeds are caused by an infection and gave him some cream. It worked brilliantly. Try the pharmacist. If no luck push for the docs even if it's a phone appointment. Good luck.

Interesting about the antibiotics. Will follow that up. Thanks for your help everyone, and some good ideas.