Nicotine gum is not a sweet

Abstract

Objective: Stress the dangerousness of the possible accidental intake of nicotine gums in children due to their presentation form that is similar to that of sweets.
Material and Methods: Observational, retrospective study of 4 cases in girls whose ages ranged from 4 to 7 years of accident intake of 1-2 nicotine gums of 2 mg recorded in the Hospital General of Segovia during the year 2007.
Results: In the four cases, symptoms appeared after the intake of the gum, this occurring 20-30 minutes after they were chewed. The predominant symptoms in 75% of the cases were nausea, vomiting and dizziness. At 30 minutes of the intake, two cases were administered activated carbon in the Emergency Department, and the remaining two were not administered it because 4 hours had passed since the intake. After remaining in observation for 12 hours and being asymptomatic, they were discharged.
Discussion: Accidental intake of nicotine gum may cause important adverse effects, these appearing faster in children than in adults. Administration of activated carbon should be considered as the first measure, and even more so during the first hours after its intake.
Since children can easily confuse it and accidentally consume it, the pharmaceutical industry should consider changing its presentation form. Furthermore, parents should be more careful so as to prevent their children from having access to it and consuming it.