Thank you for your enquiry. Nosebleed (medically known as "epistaxis") is one of the most common ENT conditions seen in my practice. It is especially common in children because at this stage, the blood vessels in the front part of the nose tend to be more prominent and exposed. Although majority of nosebleeds are not dangerous, it can affect the child's quality of life by disrupting his/her daily activities or school. As to "how frequent" a nosebleed has to be to warrant further medical attention, it depends on the severity of the bleeding (E.g. profuse like a dripping tap, vs mild blood drops/stains etc) as well as how much it disrupts the child's life. Although there are no definite guidelines, in general, any nosebleeds occurring regularly (even once a month) or causing concern should have the nose examined by an ENT Specialist.
In a 7 year old child, the most likely cause of frequent nosebleeds are prominent blood vessel/s on the front part of the nose (known as the "Little's area" of the nasal septum (the wall that separates the right nasal cavity from the left)) that has opened up during an episode of nosebleed. Common triggers include nasal allergies, trauma (e.g. habit of nose picking etc), common cold, sinus infection and dry environment.
The prominent or enlarged/exposed blood vessels can be easily sealed off in the clinic using Silver Nitrate sticks. This procedure takes less than 2 minutes and is relatively painless after application of a spray to numb the area (some patients may experience a slight burning/stinging sensation for a while).
For a more detailed answer on causes of nosebleeds and how they are managed doclick here.
Hope this helps and all the best!
