Differential Diagnosis for Nosebleed

• Single most likely diagnosis
  • Dry air or minor trauma: This is often the cause of a nosebleed, especially in children. The nasal mucosa can become dry and cracked, leading to bleeding.
• Other Likely diagnoses
  • Allergies: Allergic reactions can cause nasal congestion and irritation, leading to nosebleeds.
  • Hypertension: High blood pressure can cause blood vessels in the nose to become fragile and prone to bleeding.
  • Nasal polyps or other anatomical abnormalities: Abnormal growths or structures in the nasal passages can irritate the mucosa and cause bleeding.
  • Medications (e.g., anticoagulants, aspirin): Certain medications can increase the risk of bleeding, including nosebleeds.
• Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
  • Tumor (e.g., nasopharyngeal carcinoma): Although rare, a tumor in the nasal cavity or sinuses can cause recurrent or severe nosebleeds.
  • Vascular malformation (e.g., arteriovenous malformation): Abnormal blood vessel formations can cause severe and recurrent nosebleeds.
  • Coagulopathy (e.g., hemophilia, von Willebrand disease): Bleeding disorders can increase the risk of severe or recurrent nosebleeds.
  • Foreign body: A foreign object in the nasal cavity can cause irritation and bleeding, and may be more common in children.
• Rare diagnoses
  • Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Wegener's granulomatosis): A rare autoimmune disorder that can cause inflammation and bleeding in the nasal passages.
  • Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome): A rare genetic disorder that can cause abnormal blood vessel formations and recurrent nosebleeds.
  • Scurvy: A rare condition caused by vitamin C deficiency, which can cause bleeding gums, joint pain, and nosebleeds.