We have been publishing a number of studies over the past year or two focused on the risks of e-cigarettes on our adolescent patients, but have not recognized the effects these products, along with other nicotine and tobacco products, have on child poisoning events--at least not until Kamboj et al. (10.1542/peds.2016-0041) compiled almost 3 ½ years of National Poison Data System information on over 29,000 calls involving children under six.
The results show a monthly increase of nicotine and tobacco poisoning calls of 1493% during the study period. The majority of exposures involve children under two and the complications of these poisonings are well-described in this sad but true observational study. Most concerning are the severity of poisonings due to e-cigarettes being much worse than traditional cigarettes when it comes to hospital admissions and serious outcomes.
The authors offer some suggestions to curb this worrisome increase in poisonings from smoking products but the ultimate prevention strategy would be to remove them from the market for adults as well as teens and children. Since that does not appear to be happening any time soon, this study behooves us to at least ask parents of our patients not just if they smoke, but what they smoke, and what they do to not just smoke in front of their children, but what they are doing to keep these products out of access to them. Read this study and share it with any of your fellow colleagues.
