Possible Causes of a Nosebleed

 

Increased blood pressure-related factors:

(1) increased arterial pressure (hypertension, coarctation of the aorta)

(2) increased venous pressure (congestive heart failure, superior vena cava syndrome, cor pulmonale)

 

Environmental factors:

(1) high pressure environment

(2) low pressure environment

(3) low humidity (dry)

(4) chemical irritants

 

Coagulation-related factors:

(1) thrombocytopenia

(2) coagulation factor defect (congenital or acquired)

(3) coumadin and/or heparin therapy

(4) aspirin or other anti-platelet medications

(5) acquired platelet dysfunction

 

Trauma:

(1) nosepicking

(2) blunt or penetrating trauma

(3) fracture (facial or nasal)

(4) foreign body

(5) surgery

 

Vascular disorders:

(1) vasculitis (Wegener's other)

(2) telangiectasia (hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia) or other vascular malformations

(3) scurvy (vascular fragility)

(4) corticosteroid therapy (vascular fragility)

 

Tumor-related:

(1) angioma

(2) fibroma

(3) carcinoma

(4) leukemia

 

Infection related - many types, including:

(1) upper respiratory viral infection

(2) measles

(3) infectious mononucleosis

(4) diphtheria

(5) typhoid fever

(6) Group A streptococcus

(7) pertussis

(8) fungal infection, including zygomycosis

 

Other causes:

(1) excessive coughing and/or sneezing

(2) rhinitis sicca

(3) exertion

(4) septal perforation

(5) allergic rhinitis

(6) pregnancy

(7) radiation therapy or exposure