Recurrent epistaxis secondary to hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasis.

Familial epistaxis is often encountered by Otolaryngologists. Osier in 1901 described a triad of symptoms consisting of epistaxis, positive family history and multiple telangiectasia. Harrison (1957) regards this phenomena as 'rare' and Mc Caffrey et al. (1977) calls it unusual Multiple Telangiectasia, the cause of which is unknown, has a dominant familial trait. It may be very easily missed when located in the region of the nose unless a careful examination is carried out. A case of repeated episodes of epistaxis secondary to telangiectasia of the nasal mucosa over a period of 20 years is reported (JPMA 32:191, 1982).