The incidence of exposure to nicotine and tobacco products in children less than 6 years old increased significantly from 2012 to 2015, according to Alisha Kamboj and her associates.
From January 2012 to April 2015, the National Poison Data System received 29,141 reports of nicotine and tobacco product exposure in children under 6 years of age, averaging 729 children per month. The annual rate of exposure increased from 3.0/100,000 children in 2012 to 4.2/100,000 in 2014. A dramatic increase in exposure to e-cigarettes drove the overall increase, with monthly reports of e-cigarette use rising nearly 1,500% from January 2012 to April 2015.
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Nearly 80% of children exposed were younger than 2 years old, and the median age of exposed children was 1.1 years. Children younger than 2 accounted for 44.1% of e-cigarette exposures, 91.6% of cigarette exposures, and 75.4% of exposures to other tobacco products, the investigators noted.
Children exposed to e-cigarettes were significantly more likely to be admitted to a health care facility and to have severe outcomes than were children exposed to cigarettes, with odds ratios of 5.19 and 2.6, respectively. One death – of a 1-year-old child – was associated with nicotine liquid.
“Educating child caregivers about potential clinical effects and outcomes associated with nicotine exposure may help motivate adoption of safety behaviors and aid in identification of symptoms in the event of an exposure. Adults in households with children [younger than] 6 years should be counseled on vaping cessation and strongly encouraged not to use or store e-cigarettes, e-liquid, and related products in the home,” the investigators recommended.
Find the full study in Pediatrics (doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-0041).