Main Theme: General
Introduction: Recurrent paediatric epistaxis is a common condition that is often distressing for children and their caregivers. Although treatments such as Naseptin or silver nitrate cautery are widely used, a recurrence of epistaxis after an initial symptom free period is frequent. Yet, there is a lack of robust, long-term studies comparing treatment modalities and sustained success rates. This study aims to address that gap by evaluating long-term outcomes in a previously established paediatric cohort.
Methods: We performed a follow-up analysis of a 2020 cohort at a tertiary paediatric otolaryngology centre. Anonymised data, including age, sex, healthcare attendances, interventions and epistaxis frequency, were collected using a standardised proforma. Statistical analysis was performed using R Statistical Software (v4.5.1; R Core Team 2025).
Results: 210 patients were scheduled for a telephone appointment and 145 (69.0%) were successfully contacted. Mean age was 13.08 years, with 125 males and 85 females. Median follow-up was 48 months. Among the 75 patients (51.7%) who reported persistent epistaxis, 65.3% (n=49) had not sought any further medical care. Persistent epistaxis was reported in 44.1% (n = 30) of patients treated with Naseptin alone, compared to 57.6% (n = 30) of those who also received silver nitrate cautery. There was no significant difference in the rate of recurrence.
Conclusion: Persistent epistaxis was common, with no significant difference between treatment with Naseptin alone and those who also received silver nitrate cautery. Patient/parent education is essential to explain the aetiology of recurrent paediatric epistaxis and appropriate first aid.