Characteristic

As we know, nicotine is a dangerous ingredient in cigarettes. Nicotine is an addictive substance that you can find in tobacco plants or in cigarette products, both in traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes that contain nicotine in liquid form. Nicotine is very dangerous, you can even get nicotine poisoning to death from nicotine.

How does someone get nicotine poisoning?

Nicotine can cause poisoning in three ways, namely if you ingest it, inhale it, or have skin contact with nicotine (nicotine patch). Maybe you think you can't possibly ingest nicotine, but what about your child? Indeed, nicotine poisoning usually occurs in children.

It is very easy for children to get nicotine poisoning. The child may perceive the cigarette butts in front of them as food, so they want to try them and eventually swallow them. Or, children may perceive the nicotine in e-cigarettes as syrup because they come in a variety of colors and tastes, so they drink it later. Children are very fond of finding out about the things around them.

You need to be aware, especially if you are a parent who uses e-cigarettes or e-cigarettes, that e-cigarettes can be more harmful to your child. Even small amounts of nicotine from e-cigarettes that only reach a child's mouth (stick to the tongue), are drunk, or spilled on a child's skin can cause nicotine poisoning, and can even kill a child.

There have been many cases of nicotine poisoning that have occurred in children in this world and some cases have caused children to die. One of the cases of nicotine poisoning that caused death to a 1 year old child in the United States in December 2014, was quoted as saying on the Healthy Children page. Another case occurred in Israel of a 30-month-old girl who swallowed nicotine from her grandfather's e-cigarette. This girl also died after being taken to the hospital.

ALSO READ: Dangers of Vape and Other Facts About E-Cigarettes

How many doses of nicotine can cause death?

The fatal dose of nicotine varies between ages.

• In people adult, the fatal dose of nicotine is 40 mg of nicotine.
• To children, the fatal dose of nicotine is 1 mg per 1 kg of body weight a child has. For example, if your child is 3 years old and weighs 15 kg, 15 mg of nicotine that enters his body can expose your child to nicotine poisoning.

If your child swallows a certain amount of tobacco on a cigarette butt or drinks nicotine (even if only a little), it's best to take your child to the doctor immediately as it can be fatal.

ALSO READ: What Are the Impacts on the Fetus if the Mother Smokes While Pregnant?

What are the signs of nicotine poisoning in children?

Children who experience nicotine poisoning will show the following signs. These signs can appear immediately and occur for several hours after the child is exposed to nicotine.

1. Changes in vital signs

Too much nicotine exposure to the body can cause changes in heart rate and blood pressure. The child's heart rate may increase and then it can become slower (heart arrhythmia). Likewise, children's blood pressure can increase (hypertension) and then decrease below normal.

2. Problems in the digestive system

Children with nicotine poisoning may show signs of stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Children can also experience problems with their mouths, such as a burning feeling in the mouth and throat, and an increase in the amount of saliva they produce.

3. Trouble breathing

Nicotine poisoning in children can also cause the child to have difficulty breathing, the child's breathing may stop for a moment. The child can also experience faster breathing.

4. Mental changes

Not only a health problem, nicotine poisoning also causes mental problems in children. Nicotine poisoned children can experience depression, anxiety, anxiety, excitement, and mental confusion.

5. Other changes

In addition to the signs above, children who are poisoned with nicotine also show signs, such as:

• Headache
• Weakened muscles
• Sweating
• Seizures
• Coma
• Cardiac arrest (cardiac arrest)

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Advice for parents

Since nicotine poisoning can be fatal to your child, you as a parent should be even more careful if you are a smoker. You should not smoke in front of your child, in addition to preventing children from the dangers of cigarette smoke, also to prevent children from unwanted things such as nicotine poisoning.

Also, keep cigarettes, e-cigarettes, e-cigarette stuffs and other smoking-related devices out of reach of your child. Put your cigarettes and smoking equipment in a place that is safe out of the reach of children.

ALSO READ: Smoking Near Children Is Child Abuse

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