People are being warned to keep nicotine replacements away from children following a rise in calls to the National Poisons Centre.
The centre has seen a steady increase in calls about children's exposure to nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) from five in 2004 to 27 in 2009, and 49 last year, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Nicotine gum and other related products are safe if used by smokers at recommended doses, but overdoses can cause symptoms including irregular pulse, breathing difficulties, and death.
The centre, in a report to the Ministry of Health this year, said paediatricians have noticed more children are being exposed to NRT, with three "serious exposures" recently in Nelson.
Nelson-Marlborough District Health Board paediatrician Dr Nick Baker told the newspaper three pre-schoolers had been hospitalised with symptoms including nausea, salivation, agitation and vomiting.
"Many people carry around a potentially lethal dose of nicotine. We advise that people treat their nicotine replacement therapy as a medicine and keep it out of reach of children."
The centre said in one case investigated, the child had ingested 25 pieces of gum.
