2025/07/14 by Madelyn Olivas, Hannah L. Hays, Sandhya Kistamgari +4 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study #Poisoning and overdose treatments #Smoking Behavior and Cessation
paper · pdf · doi:10.1542/peds.2024-070522
openalex publication_date 2025/07/14 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate the characteristics and trends of nicotine ingestions among young children reported to US poison centers. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed unintentional, single-substance nicotine ingestions among children younger than age 6 years reported to the National Poison Data System from 2010-2023. RESULTS: There were 134 663 nicotine ingestions among children younger than age 6 years reported to US poison centers, and most were among children younger than age 2 years (76.2%), boys (55.5%), or occurred at a residence (98.5%). The rate of nicotine ingestions increased by 59.4% from 2010 to 2015 (P < .001) before decreasing by 34.1% from 2015 to 2023 (P < .001). This rate trend was primarily determined by the ingestion rate for liquid nicotine, which increased by 450.0% from 2010 to 2015 (P < .001) and then decreased by 45.2% from 2015 to 2023 (P < .05). Most nicotine ingestions were associated with no effect (36.8%) or minor effect (19.6%), and 81.3% did not receive treatment at a health care facility. Moderate effects were observed among 1.2% of ingestions, and there were 39 ingestions with major effects and 2 fatalities. A minority of ingestions (15.9%) were treated/evaluated and released, and 0.5% were medically admitted. The rate of nicotine pouch ingestions increased by 763.1% from 2020 to 2023. Nicotine pouches were more likely to be associated with a serious medical outcome (odds ratio [OR]: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.10-2.13) or medical admission (OR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.31-3.15) than other product formulations combined. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings, including the emergence and comparative severity of nicotine pouch ingestions, support the need for ongoing surveillance and increased efforts to prevent nicotine ingestions among young children.