• Common causes of Epistaxis:
  • Local trauma: Any trauma to the nasal area, blunt or a blow, picking at the nose, fall..
  • Drying of nasal mucosa: This is more common in cold weather wherein the mucosa dries up forming crusts leading to itching and bleeding when picked at.
  • Nose anomalies - nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum
• Less common causes of Epistaxis
  • Local infections - vestibulitis, sinusitis, rhinitis
  • Foreign bodies - especially in toddlers can tear the mucosa and cause bleeding
  • Systemic illnesses - Hypertension, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
  • Arteriosclerosis - Loss of elasticity and hardening of arterial walls may cause Epistaxis.
  • Coagulopathy/Bleeding disorders- DIC (Disseminated intravascular coagulation), hemophilia, von willebrands disease
  • Malignancy - Abnormal growth of tissue projecting from the nose can cause bleeding.