nicotine poisoning

poisoning /poi·son·ing/ (poiz´ning) the morbid condition produced by a poison.

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blood poisoning  septicemia.

food poisoning  a group of acute illnesses due to ingestion of contaminated food. It may result from allergy; toxemia from foods, such as those inherently poisonous or those contaminated by poisons; foods containing poisons formed by bacteria; or foodborne infections.

heavy metal poisoning  poisoning with any of the heavy metals, particularly antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium, or zinc.

mushroom poisoning  that due to ingestion of poisonous mushrooms; see Amanita.

nicotine poisoning  poisoning by nicotine, such as in tobacco workers or children who eat cigarettes, marked by stimulation and then depression of the central and autonomic nervous systems, and sometimes death from respiratory paralysis.

salmon poisoning  see Neorickettsia.

sausage poisoning  allantiasis.

scombroid poisoning  epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, dysphagia, thirst, urticaria, and pruritus, usually lasting for less than 24 hours, caused by the ingestion of a toxic histamine-like substance produced by bacterial action on histidine in fish flesh; occurring when inadequately preserved scombroid fish (tuna, bonito, mackerel, etc.) are eaten.

shellfish poisoning  poisoning from eating bivalve mollusks contaminated with a neurotoxin secreted by protozoa.

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nicotine poisoning,

poisoning from intake of nicotine, characterized by stimulation of the central and autonomic nervous systems followed by depression of these systems. In fatal cases death occurs from respiratory failure. See also acute nicotine poisoning.

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Nicotine Poisoning

Occupational medicine Green tobacco sickness
Public health A toxic physiologic response to nicotine resulting from tobacco consumption by smoking or via smokeless tobacco

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nicotine [nik´o-tēn, nik´o-tin]

a very poisonous alkaloid that in its pure state is a colorless, pungent, oily liquid, having an acrid burning taste. It is a constituent of tobacco, and is also produced synthetically. It is administered orally, intranasally, or by inhalation as an aid to smoking cessation. In water solution, it is sometimes used as an insecticide and plant spray.

Although nicotine is highly toxic, the amount inhaled while smoking tobacco is too small to cause death. The nicotine in tobacco can, however, cause indigestion and increase in blood pressure, and dull the appetite. It also acts as a vasoconstrictor. Researchers link smoking with heart disease, lung cancer, and other diseases.

nicotine poisoning poisoning by nicotine, such as in children who eat cigarettes, workers who handle wet tobacco leaves, or persons who overuse nicotine gums or patches. Symptoms include stimulation followed by depression of the central and autonomic nervous systems and occasionally death due to respiratory paralysis. Called also nicotinism.

nicotine polacrilex nicotine bound to a cation exchange resin; used in nicotine chewing gum as an aid to smoking cessation.