What is the medical term for a nosebleed?

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The medical term for a nosebleed is epistaxis. This term specifically refers to bleeding from the nasal cavity and is commonly used in both clinical and non-clinical settings. Nosebleeds can occur due to a variety of reasons, including trauma, environmental factors, or health conditions, and calling it epistaxis provides a precise language for medical professionals to assess and discuss the condition accurately.

Rhinorrhea refers to a condition where there is a discharge of thin, watery mucus from the nasal passages, often associated with allergies or respiratory infections, rather than bleeding. Rhinitis is the inflammation of the nasal mucosa, which could lead to symptoms like congestion and nasal discharge but does not specifically denote bleeding. Coryza is another term that describes a cold or the symptoms associated with upper respiratory infections, such as a runny nose, but it also doesn't refer to the act of bleeding from the nose. Thus, epistaxis is the correct term to use when discussing nosebleeds.

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