Epidemiology and management of Epistaxis in the Punjab

ABSTRACT

640 patients suffering from epistaxis has been analysed. Of thee patients 60% were male and 40% female. 86% were aged between 11-40 years. The occurrence of epistaxis was greatest during the summer and winter months. Accidental trauma turned out to be the commonest [28%] cause of nose bleeding, followed by inflammatory causes [17% and idiopathic [14.5%]. In active nose bleeding anterior nasal packing was effective in 261 cases; chemical cautery in 78 cases and electrocoagulation in 65 cases; post nasal packing [Foley's catheter] in 48 cases and nosepinching in 56 cases. Arterial ligation had to be undertaken only in 2 cases. The aetiological factors and management are discussed