Epistaxis among children in Lower Egypt: frequency and risk factors

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Family medicine department, faculty of medicine, zagazig university, zagazig, Egypt

2 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract:
Background: Epistaxis or nosebleeds is a common complaint especially in young children. Most of the risk factors causing epistaxis are preventable or modifiable, so identification of these risk factors decreases complications that may be happening with epistaxis.

Objectives: To determine the related risk factors of epistaxis among children aged 6-12 years old in Lower Egypt and its frequency.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted on 758 children. By multistage sampling technique, Sharkia and Menoufia governorates were selected to represent Lower Egypt, Zagazig and Shebin El-Kom health districts were selected, then four family health facilities were chosen to represent urban and rural areas. Data on participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, characters of the epistaxis attack and many related risk factors were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire.
Results: The study revealed a high frequency of epistaxis (35.4%) among children aged 6-12 years old. About (53.3%) of them were of low socioeconomic standard. The attacks were more frequent in winter (43.7%) and most of them were of a little amount of bleeding. the risk was more evident with head and face trauma, cigarette smoke exposure, children suffering from a chronic cough or nasal allergy or using steroid-containing drugs.
Conclusion: there is a high frequency of epistaxis among young children. Most of the related risk factors are easily modifiable to prevent the recurrence of the attacks. Health education regarding children's safety measures with increasing awareness about red flags is still needed.
Keywords: allergic rhinitis, frequency, Lower Egypt, nosebleed, trauma.

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