Minor bleeding is most often caused by local inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat or gums causing damage to small venous vessels. Such bleeds are usually not dangerous and resolve spontaneously. Larger bleeds may be caused by damage to a hemangioma located in the mouth or throat, systemic haemorrhagic diathesis or other blood diseases, chronic use of drugs that interfere with blood clotting, a foreign body, trauma, or a condition following an oral procedure (tooth extraction, tonsillectomy).

It is also important to bear in mind the possibility of 'pseudo' oral haemorrhage, i.e. blood that has entered the mouth from an entirely different source of bleeding, e.g. oozing from the nasal cavities, expectorated from the respiratory tract or backflowing from the gastrointestinal tract. The throat is heavily supplied with blood by branches of the carotid arteries and, with deep mucosal damage, bleeding can be very intense. Bleeding from the mouth and throat can be very dangerous, as there is a risk of blood and food debris entering the airways uncontrollably.

In general, any bleeding from the mouth, or spitting up or coughing up blood, requires urgent medical consultation. Minor bleeding with an obvious cause, caused by minor mechanical damage to the mucous membrane of the mouth or throat, may be an exception.

The possibility of the presence of a foreign body in one of the difficult-to-see oral or pharyngeal recesses should always be considered, as well as the possibility of a sudden manifestation of one of the so-called haemorrhagic diathesis, threatening prolonged and massive bleeding. Particularly worrying are prolonged bleeding after mechanical trauma (e.g. after tooth extraction) or so-called delayed bleeding, i.e. bleeding from areas that initially appeared to be already healed and under control.

For minor, superficial bleeding, the basic treatment should be the application of a gauze pressure dressing or a special dressing such as Spongostan (if available at home). For heavier bleeding - while waiting for medical help - you can try tightly padding the bleeding area of the mouth with a sterile bandage, preferably soaked in saline or distilled water.

Caution!

Always remember to protect the child from choking on blood into the airway. Never lay the baby on its back. The best position is a sitting position with the child leaning forward or lying on his/her side, but so that any oozing blood flows forward through the mouth and not into the throat.