Nicotine Poisoning in Infant Highlights e-Cigarette Safety Issue

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Kevin Osterhoudt, MD, director of the Poison Control Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Robert Bassett, MD, of Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, and Tecla Brabazon, DO, of Abington Health Lansdale Hospital, reported on the emerging safety concern related to e-cigarettes the June 5, 2014 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

This rising issue was highlighted in the case of a 10-month-old boy who was rushed to a hospital after ingesting the refill liquid used in e-cigarettes.

The increased availability of highly concentrated liquid nicotine has coincided with a dramatic rise in reports of possible nicotine toxicity to U.S. poison control centers. These exposures can be potentially fatal, especially when ingested by infants or young children.