- Trauma: Nose picking, blunt force, foreign body inserted into nasal cavity
- Mucosal injury from cocaine use, other toxin
- Allergic inflammation, polyps, other processes that increase mucosal vascularity/fragility
- Dry mucous membranes (predispose to bleeding)
- Excessive nose blowing
- Contribution from severe hypertension
- Vary w/cause and site
- Anterior (80%) nasal source causes blood to drip from nares, though can also drip down back of throat
- Posterior (20%) source causes blood to drip down back of throat, though often also thru nares
- Coughing, w/blood
- Nasal stuffiness/congestion
- If anterior source, site (and cause) of bleeding might be visible
- Posterior bleeding often manifests as blood dripping down posterior pharynx