Nose Emergency

A nose emergency involves a significant loss of blood, injury, or blockage of the nose that interferes with breathing.

What are the causes and risks of the injury?

Some of the causes of nosebleeds are as follows:

A foreign body in the nose may be caused by the following:

A nose fracture may be caused by the following:

What are the signs and symptoms of the injury?

Symptoms of a nose emergency will vary, depending on the type of problem.

Following are some of the signs and symptoms of nosebleeds:

Some of the usual signs that a foreign body may be lodged in the nose are as follows:

A nose fracture usually involves the following:

How is the injury recognized?

The diagnosis of a nose emergency begins with a medical history and physical exam. An X-ray may be ordered if a nose fracture is suspected.

What can be done to prevent the injury?

The following measures can help to prevent nose emergencies from the various causes:

What are the treatments for the injury?

Treatment varies, depending on the type of nose emergency.

Nosebleed

1. Keep the person calm. Have the person breathe slowly through the mouth.

2. Direct the person to either sit or stand upright and lean forward slightly. This helps prevent blood from going down the back of the throat, causing blockage. This will also help slow blood flow from the veins of the nose.

3. Stop blood flow by pinching the nose with the thumb and index finger while breathing through the mouth. It is important to apply this direct pressure for 5 to 10 minutes. Often this is successful in stopping the bleeding.

4. Apply cold compresses to the nose to help reduce swelling and also slow down bleeding.

5. If the person's nose continues to bleed 15 minutes after changing the person's position and applying direct pressure and cool compresses, get medical help.

Foreign body in the nose

1. Encourage the person to breathe slowly. Any sudden or deep breath could force the object further into the nose.

2. Gently press the other nostril closed and have the person blow through the affected nostril, if it is known which nostril the foreign object is in.

3. Avoid blowing the nose too hard or repeatedly.

4. Seek medical help if the above method fails. Do not try to get the object using tweezers, even if it is visible deep up in the cavity.

5. Do not attempt to remove an object that is not easy to see and grasp. Doing so can push the object further up the nose.

Nose fracture

1. Keep the person calm.

2. Have the person breathe slowly through the mouth and lean forward in a sitting position. This helps to prevent blood from going down the back of the throat. It also helps slow the blood flow.

3. Apply cold compresses to the nose to help reduce swelling and also slow down bleeding.

4. Consider pain medication, including acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

5. Do not try to straighten a broken nose. Seek medical attention right away.

What are the side effects of the treatments?

Improper compression, positioning, and sometimes pinching too hard can actually damage the nose. Trying to remove a foreign object lodged in the nostril can actually lodge it more firmly. Any attempt to straighten a broken nose could cause further injury, which may seriously involve the eyes and their movement.

What happens after treatment for the injury?

Nosebleeds generally go away without problems. Sometimes recurring nosebleeds require surgery.

When a foreign body is removed from the nose, the nasal lining may become inflamed. However, once the object is removed, the person usually does well.

Nose fractures generally heal without the need for surgery. The fractures can be significant enough to cause airway blockage, which may require surgery. In some cases, there can also be some permanent deformity.

Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.

Author:James Broomfield, MD
Date Written:
Editor:Ballenberg, Sally, BS
Edit Date:04/30/01
Reviewer:Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
Date Reviewed:08/20/01