title: The effect of hand dominance on recurrent idiopathic paediatric epistaxis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  No published data exists to support the belief that nose picking contributes to recurrent idiopathic paediatric epistaxis. If nose picking is implicated then there may be a higher incidence of epistaxis on the side of the dominant hand. The objective of the study was to determine whether nose picking has a significant role in paediatric epistaxis by comparing hand dominance and side of epistaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, consecutive cohort of new epistaxis referrals to a tertiary paediatric centre over a 14-month period were assessed for hand dominance and reported side of the epistaxis. The presence of septal excoriation, crusting and prominent blood vessels was also recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-eight new epistaxis referrals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dominant hand, side of epistaxis history and side of positive examination findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant association between hand dominance and either epistaxis history or examination findings was identified. A statistically significant association between epistaxis history and examination findings was identified P < 0.001, K = 0.614, SE 0.571.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study does not provide evidence to support the belief that paediatric epistaxis is influenced by nose picking. The study provides evidence that patients' epistaxis history and positive examination findings are a consistent marker of previous epistaxis.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, NHS Tayside, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK. pjoice@nhs.net
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joice
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications