A nosebleed or Epistaxis is a small bleeding from the blood vessels of the nose. Epistaxis is a common complaint, particularly in emergency medicine specialties dealing with the treatment of ENT disorders. Children (ages 2-10) and elderly adults are more prone to epistaxis than younger people (ages 50–80). Epistaxis can be classified as anterior or posterior, depending on where it originates.
A nosebleed from the front (anterior) of the nose is referred to as anterior Epistaxis. Although these arteries are easily injured by trauma, most episodes of anterior epistaxis are caused by the Kiesselbach plexus, a vascular network located on the nasal septum. The most frequent type of nosebleed, anterior epistaxis, typically only affects one nostril.
