Epistaxis as a cause of hematemesis and melena.
Epistaxis was diagnosed in 10 patients with apparent upper gastrointestinal bleeding, comprising a 0.55% incidence of hematemesis and melena in the population studied. A sufficient amount of blood can be swallowed during epistaxis to cause hematemesis and melena. Recent facial trauma or epistaxis, absence of a history of chronic dyspepsia, and impairment of blood coagulation emerge as strong indicators of the diagnosis and should lead to a careful examination of the nose and nasopharynx for the source of bleeding.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis; D006396:Hematemesis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008551:Melena / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000293:injuries*