@article{ref1,
title="Childhood poisoning involving transdermal nicotine patches",
journal="Pediatrics",
year="1997",
author="Woolf, A. and Burkhart, K. and Caraccio, T. and Litovitz, Toby",
volume="99",
number="5",
pages="E4-E4",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To describe the circumstances, medical complications, and outcomes of children exposed to a transdermal nicotine patch (TNP). DESIGN: Prospective case series; postmarketing surveillance study over a 24-month period. SETTING: Thirty-four United States poison centers. Patients. Children 0 to 15 years old exposed to a TNP. INTERVENTIONS: None. OUTCOME MEASURES: Exposure circumstances, symptoms and signs of toxicity, complications, disposition, and hospital length of stay. RESULTS: Reports were received concerning 36 exposures to TNP in children younger than 16 years old (mean: 3 years old). Eighteen of these TNP exposures were dermal; 18 additional children had bitten, chewed, or swallowed part of a patch. All four commercial brands of TNP were represented; no brand was associated with more symptoms or an increased severity of illness. Fourteen children (39%) developed symptoms, including gastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain), weakness, dizziness, or localized rashes. Occurrence of symptoms after a dermal exposure to a TNP was associated with an estimated nicotine dose &gt;/=.10 mg (&gt;/=.01 mg/kg body weight). Ten children were seen in the emergency department; two were admitted overnight. All recovered fully. CONCLUSIONS: In this series, unintentional exposures to TNPs among young children usually involved used patches, were transient (&lt;20 minutes duration), and required only skin decontamination and supportive care. Continued monitoring of inadvertent childhood exposures to TNPs is recommended to confirm these observations.   <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0031-4005",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}