Using Sydromic Surveillance to Track E-cigarette Related Emergency Department Visits

The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) investigated the feasibility of using syndromic surveillance (SyS) data to identify health care visits due to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use. E-cigarettes have been associated with injuries and fatalities in all age groups, including young children attracted to the colorful liquid nicotine carriage packaging [1]. Previously, poison control data was the only resource available to the NDDoH for e-cigarette adverse outcomes surveillance.

Objective

To explore the use of emergency department syndromic surveillance data to identify adverse health events related to electronic cigarettes in order in enhance existing surveillance.