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welcome to toxi.chA cigarette contains 15 to 20 mg of nicotine, a dose theoretically able to cause serious poisoning in a small child. In practice, numerous cases show us that no serious outcomes are seen after the ingestion of up to 2 cigarettes (or 6 cigarette butts). A small amount of tobacco, however, can produce vomiting. Less frequently, the treating physicians report pallor, tachycardia, sweating, apathy or restlessness.
Our experience is quite comparable with that of other centres. A large american study, for instance, shows that no serious poisoning occurred in 700 small children after the ingestion of up to two cigarettes and even more (1).
No action is therefore required when a child has ingested less than 2 cigarettes and is symptomless. If the amount is larger or if there are symptoms we recommend to consult a physician. Shortly after the ingestion one can also administer a suspension of activated charcoal, which will bind the nicotine in the stomach and prevent its absorption by the body.
Caution: This text on cigarette-tobacco does not apply to other nicotine containing products (like pipe-tobacco or chewing-tobacco, nicotine chewing-gum or patches), nor to liquids (water in which cigarettes have been immersed, beverages from goblets having been used as ash-trays, etc.). In such situations, the toxicity is enhanced, and a medical consultation or a call to the Poisons Centre is recommended.
Gruss,
Uta