Tobacco and nicotine products are common in many homes, but many people don’t realize that nicotine is a poison. The addictive ingredient found in tobacco can be harmful no matter how someone is exposed: by eating it, touching it, or inhaling it.
For children, the risk is especially serious. Because of their small size, even a small amount of nicotine can cause poisoning.
What Is Nicotine Poisoning?
Nicotine poisoning happens when too much nicotine enters the body. This can occur through swallowing tobacco products, skin contact, or breathing tobacco smoke or vapor.
Mild symptoms may include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
More serious symptoms may include:
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Headache
- Hyperactivity or restlessness
- Changes in heart rate or blood pressure
- Difficulty breathing
In rare cases, nicotine poisoning can cause:
- Seizures
- Coma
- Death
Children are particularly vulnerable because their bodies are smaller and more sensitive to toxic substances.
How Children Are Exposed to Nicotine
Children are naturally curious. Bright packaging, interesting smells, and objects that resemble candy or toys can make tobacco products appealing to them.
Tasting or Swallowing
Tobacco and nicotine products are dangerous if swallowed, even if a child spits them out afterward.
Children have been known to eat or drink:
- Whole cigarettes, cigars and cigarette butts
- Liquid nicotine from e-cigarette cartridges or refill bottles
- Smokeless tobacco, such as chewing tobacco or snuff
- Liquid from “spit cups” used by people who chew tobacco
- Nicotine gum, lozenges, mints or patches
Even small amounts of any of these can cause poisoning.
Touching
Nicotine can be absorbed through the skin, meaning that simply handling tobacco products can expose a child to dangerous levels.
Items children may touch or play with include:
- E-cigarettes, refill bottles and cartridges that leak or break
- Nicotine pouches
- Snuff and other smokeless tobacco products
- Spit cups
- Cigarettes and unwrapped cigars
- Nicotine patches
Because nicotine is absorbed quickly through the skin, touching these products can be just as dangerous as swallowing them.
Inhaling
Breathing tobacco smoke or vapor also exposes children to nicotine and other harmful chemicals.
Secondhand smoke can increase the risk of:
- Asthma in children
- Heart disease later in life
- Lung cancer and other lung diseases
- Nasal polyps
Secondhand smoke exposure also has been linked to an increased risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).
E-cigarettes may or may not contain nicotine. They use a liquid solution to create a vapor that mimics cigarette smoke. Because these products are relatively new, researchers are still studying the long-term health effects of using them or being exposed to their vapor.
Keep Kids Safe From Tobacco and Nicotine
Taking a few precautions can greatly reduce the risk of nicotine poisoning.
- Store all tobacco products up high and out of sight and reach of children. This includes every part of an e-cigarette, especially refill bottles and cartridges.
- Empty and clean ashtrays and spit cups regularly, especially before going to bed.
- Be cautious when visiting homes where tobacco products are used, particularly if your child is not normally around them.
- Avoid using tobacco products in front of children. Kids often imitate adults and may try to touch or taste what they see.
If You Suspect Nicotine Poisoning
If you think a child has been exposed to tobacco or nicotine, don’t wait for symptoms to appear.
Call the Kentucky Poison Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
Poison specialists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide free, confidential help. Acting quickly can prevent serious harm.