Treatement of Epistaxis in Children
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2025-05-18
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Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
Epistaxis (bleeding from the nose) occurs commonly in children. They usually seek medical attention when it becomes a recurrent problem. It can be classified by its anatomic location into anterior and posterior epistaxis; anterior epistaxis is far more common. The nose has a rich vascular supply withsubstantial contributions from arteries originating from both the internal (ICA) and the external (ECA) carotid arteries. The ECA system supplies blood to the nosevia the facial and internal maxillary arteries. The superior labial artery is a terminalbranch of the facial artery and contributesto the blood supply of the anteriornasal floor and anterior septum through itsseptal branch. The internal maxillary arteryenters the pterygopalatine fossa where itdivides into 6 branches: posterior superior alveolar, descending palatine, infraorbital, sphenopalatine, pterygoid canal, and pharyngeal (Figures 1 & 2). The descending palatine artery descends through the greaterpalatine canal and supplies the lateral nasal wall; a branch then returns to the nasalcavity via the incisive foramen to supplythe anterior nasal septum. The sphenopalatine artery enters the nose near the posterior attachment of the middle turbinate to supply the lateral nasal wall; a branch also supplies the nasal septum.
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Reference:
Hadijisymeou, S. & Jonas, N. 2025. Treatement of Epistaxis in Children. In Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery. J. Fagan, Ed.Cape Town, South Africa: University of Cape Town. 7. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/43556 .