Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T20:21:00.033Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Frequency and management of epistaxis in schools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 November 2009

A Robertson ,
R King  and
A Tomkinson
A Robertson*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK
R King
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, UK
A Tomkinson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Alasdair Robertson, 45 Kyle Crescent, Cardiff CF14 1ST, Wales, UK. E-mail: anrobertson@hotmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Study objectives:

To investigate the frequency and management of epistaxis in schools.

Study design:

A postal survey of schools.

Results:

One hundred and fifty-seven questionnaires were posted out to 41 secondary schools (students aged 11–18 years) and to 116 primary schools (students aged four to 11 years). One hundred and twelve completed questionnaires were returned, 32 from secondary schools and 80 from primary schools. Most schools stated that they encountered a nose bleed once per month. The commonest method of treating a nose bleed was to pinch the top of the nose (an ineffective method), although pinching the bottom of the nose was almost as common. Only a minority of primary and secondary schools (37.5 and 25 per cent, respectively) had a policy for dealing with nose bleeds. Despite many respondents reportedly using an ineffective method, only two stated that they did not feel confident in dealing with nose bleeds.

Conclusion:

Nose bleeds in school students are common, and management frequently deviates from recommended guidelines.

Keywords

EpistaxisFirst AidSchool Health Services
Type
Main Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 3 , March 2010 , pp. 302 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Presented at the annual Welsh Oto-Rhinological Association meeting, 28 October 2007, Portmeirion, Wales, UK.

References

1Watkinson, JC. Epistaxis. In: MacKay, IS, Bull, TR, eds. Scott Brown's Otolaryngology, 6th edn.London: Butterworths, 1997;4:1–19Google Scholar
2Petruson, B. Epistaxis in childhood. Rhinology 1979;17:83–90Google ScholarPubMed
3Damrose, JF, Maddalozzo, J. Pediatric epistaxis. Laryngoscope 2006;116:387–93CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Guarisco, JL, Graham, HD. Epistaxis in children: causes, diagnosis and treatment. Ear Nose Throat J 1989;68:522–32Google ScholarPubMed
5Kiley, V, Stuart, JJ, Johnson, CA. Coagulation studies in children with isolated recurrent epistaxis. J Pediatr 1982;100:579–33CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Katsanis, E, Luke, KH, Hsu, E. Prevalence and significance of mild bleeding disorders in children with recurrent epistaxis. J Pediatr 1988;113:73–6CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Kubba, H, MacAndie, C, Robison, J, O'Donnell, M, Robertson, G, Geddes, N. A prospective, single blind, randomised controlled trial of antiseptic cream for recurrent epistaxis in childhood. Clin Otolaryngol 2001;26:465–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8Murthy, P, Nilssen, ELK, Rao, S, McClymont, LG. A randomised clinical trial of antiseptic nasal carrier cream and silver nitrate cautery in the treatment of recurrent anterior epistaxis. Clin Otolaryngol 1999;24:228–31CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Zvoru, GG, Mkura, G, Porter, GC, McCormick, MS. Paediatric epistaxis: the Alder Hey experience. J Laryngol Otol 2002;116:903–6Google Scholar
10Cleaver, B, Crawford, R, Armstrong, VJ (eds). First Aid Manual: The Authorised Manual of St. John Ambulance, St. Andrew's Ambulance Association, and the British Red Cross, 8th edn.London: Dorling Kindersley, 2006Google Scholar