Meet our experts

Increasing use of the internet for health information has decreased utilization of traditional telephone-based poison centers in the United States. An analysis of 156,202 webPOISONCONTROL cases from 2020 showed that the tool provides a safe, quick and fully-automated alternative for those who are unable or unwilling to use the telephone to call a traditional poison center. It further highlights the app’s potential for health surveillance and hazard detection.

_{Reid NE, Johnson-Arbor K, Smolinske S, Litovitz T. 2020 webPOISONCONTROL data summary. Am J Emerg Med. 2022;54:184-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2022.02.014}

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

_{Johnson-Arbor K, Reid N, Smolinske S. Human toxicity from COVID-19 rapid home test kits. Am J Emerg Med. 2022 Jul;57:215-216. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.01.048. Epub 2022 Jan 25.}

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

Supersized alcopops are single-serving high-alcohol-content beverages frequently consumed by underage drinkers. However, little data exist regarding the public health burden of supersized alcopops during the last decade. The current study examined the characteristics of calls to U.S. poison control centers involving supersized alcopops. This study also compared the proportion of calls for underage consumers between calls involving consumption of supersized alcopops and calls involving other types of alcohol (e.g., liquor, beer, wine).

_{Rossheim ME, Livingston MD, Walker A, Reid NE, Liu L, Mazer‐Amirshahi M. Supersized alcopop related calls in the National Poison Data System, 2010‐2019. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2021:222 [Epub ahead of print].}

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

New strategies recently proposed to mitigate injury caused by lithium coin cell batteries lodged in the esophagus include prehospital administration of honey to coat the battery and prevent local hydroxide generation and in-hospital administration of sucralfate suspension (or honey). This study was undertaken to define the safe interval for administering coating agents by identifying the timing of onset of esophageal perforations.

_{Soto PH, Reid NE, Litovitz TL. Time to perforation for button batteries lodged in the esophagus. Am J Emerg Med. 2018 Jul 18. [Epub ahead of print].}

The Journal of Pediatrics

Button batteries can cause local tissue necrosis within 2h of exposure due to hydrolysis of tissue fluid and generation of hydroxide ions. Tissue damage resulting from battery exposure has been associated with acute and chronic complications via several routes, however, previous experience with ocular battery exposures is predominantly limited to batteries that have exploded or penetrated the eye.

_{Mazer M, Whitaker N, Kayewilson L, Litovitz T. Severe ocular injury following button battery exposure. J Emerg Med. 2013 Feb; 44(2): e187‐9.}

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

Outcomes of pediatric button battery ingestions have worsened substantially, predominantly related to the emergence of the 20-mm-diameter lithium cell as a common power source for household products. Button batteries lodged in the esophagus can cause severe tissue damage in just 2 hours, with delayed complications such as esophageal perforation, tracheoesophageal fistulas, exsanguination after fistulization into a major blood vessel, esophageal strictures, and vocal cord paralysis. Thirteen deaths have been reported. The objective of this study was to explore button battery ingestion scenarios to formulate prevention strategies.

_{Litovitz T, Whitaker N, Clark L. Preventing battery ingestions: An analysis of 8648 cases. Pediatrics, 2010: 125(6): 1178‐83.}

Pediatrics

During a 7-year period, 2382 cases of battery ingestion were reported to a national registry. Button cells were ingested by 2320 of these patients; 62 patients ingested cylindrical cells. These cases are analyzed to reassess current therapeutic recommendations, hypotheses about battery-induced injury, and strategies for prevention and intervention.

_{Reid NE, Johnson-Arbor K, Smolinske S, Litovitz T. 2020 webPOISONCONTROL data summary. Am J Emerg Med. 2022;54:184-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2022.02.014}

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

_{Watson WA, Litovitz TL, Klein‐Schwartz W, Rodgers GC, Youniss J, Reid N, Rouse WG, Rembert RS, and Borys D. 2003 Annual Report of the AAPCC Toxic Exposure Surveillance System. American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2004: 22(5).}

Pediatrics

Button batteries immersed in a simulated gastric environment (0.1N hydrochloric acid) demonstrated less crimp dissolution (corrosion of the metal can) after the addition of neutralizing doses of eight of nine antacids tested. Of 64 ingestion episodes in dogs, clinical manifestations of button battery-induced injury were limited to a single animal developing guaiac-positive stools. Endoscopic lesions included only mild gastritis, occurring with a frequency comparable to that observed in dogs prior to battery ingestion.

_{Litovitz T, Butterfield AB, Holloway RR, Marion LI. Button battery ingestion: Assess¬ment of therapeutic modalities and battery discharge state. J Peds 1984;105(6):868 873.}

The Journal of Pediatrics