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Nicotine poisoning can occur from ingesting too much nicotine, causing symptoms such as agitation, seizures, and vomiting. Children are at a higher risk, and medical attention is necessary. Treatment may include gastric lavage and activated charcoal.
Nicotine is a chemical found in tobacco leaves, some medicines, and products to help people quit smoking. Nicotine poisoning is the result of ingesting too much nicotine into the body. Some of the symptoms of this condition include agitation, seizures and vomiting. Regular use of tobacco products or smoking cessation products will likely not result in poisoning, as it usually takes larger amounts of chemicals to cause poisoning. People with nicotine poisoning can often be treated successfully with the help of a poison control center, but in other cases, a visit to a doctor or emergency room may be necessary, as this condition can be fatal if left untreated.
A person who has been poisoned with nicotine may feel nauseous and may drool or sweat. Other early symptoms of nicotine poisoning can include headaches and stomach cramps. If exposure continues, more serious symptoms such as vomiting and difficulty breathing may occur. Eventually, if acute nicotine poisoning develops, it could cause seizures, fainting, coma, or even death in some cases. Most of the time, a person can recover with no lasting effects, but prompt medical attention is usually a good idea.
Because it may take less nicotine to poison a child than an adult, children are more likely to be poisoned if they accidentally swallow items that contain nicotine. Many cases of poisoning result from children eating nicotine gum or chewing patches. Children can also be poisoned if they enter and eat drugs that have nicotine as an ingredient. Workers who process tobacco plants can sometimes be poisoned from contact with wet plant leaves as well.
Medical assistance is usually required for cases of nicotine poisoning. If poisoning is suspected, contacting a poison control center may help. In most cases, inducing vomiting without first consulting a doctor is not recommended. If the person has absorbed nicotine through the skin, washing the area for 15 minutes with soap and water may help.
Sometimes a person may need to see a doctor to confirm that nicotine poisoning is causing the problems. A doctor may order blood and urine tests to see if nicotine is present in the body. Doctors can then administer necessary treatment, such as a gastric lavage, which is a procedure that cleans out the stomach. Activated charcoal can also be used for treatment.
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