Eating a cigarette is probably healthier than smoking it because it won't damage the lungs in the same way - just an unpleasant taste, probably stomach ache, and that's that.
@peoplewhoannoyyou
FYI - it's a poison, and if you suspect a child has ingested even as much as a cigarette butt you should contact your local Poison Control Centre immediately.
www.poison.org/articles/2013-jul/my-child-ate-a-cigarette
Nicotine is very poisonous. The amount in only one cigarette butt is enough to poison a child. Other forms of nicotine are also extremely poisonous: cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, nicotine gum if chewed by a child, nicotine patches if chewed on by a child, and liquid nicotine used for electronic cigarettes...
...The main active ingredient in cigarettes and other tobacco products is nicotine. Nicotine is highly toxic. As little as 1 milligram (mg) of nicotine, a very small amount, can cause symptoms in an infant. One whole cigarette has 13 - 30 mg of nicotine, while one cigarette butt contains 5 - 7 mg.
The most commonly poisoned children are 6 years old or younger. When children swallow cigarettes or other types of tobacco products, their symptoms will be directly related to the dose of nicotine they received. Nicotine acts in the brain. Mild nicotine poisoning causes nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tremors, sweating and high blood pressure. Severe poisoning can be life-threatening and lead to seizures. Seizures can begin in as little as 20 - 30 minutes.
www.cdc.gov/niosh/ershdb/EmergencyResponseCard_29750028.html
INGESTION EXPOSURE:
<span class="italic">Early phase: nausea, vomiting (emesis), abdominal pain, and increased salivation; fluid build-up in the airways (bronchorrhea); rapid, heavy breathing (hyperpnea); high blood pressure (hypertension), rapid heart rate (tachycardia), and generalized narrowing of the blood vessels (vasoconstriction) with pale skin; and headache, dizziness, confusion, agitation, restlessness, loss of balance and difficulty walking, and visual and hearing (auditory) distortions.</span>
<span class="italic">Late phase: diarrhea (particularly at larger doses); shallow breathing (hypoventilation), no breathing (apnea), low blood pressure (hypotension), slow heart rate (bradycardia), abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias), and shock (critically low blood pressure); and loss of normal reflexes (hyporeflexia), loss of normal muscle tone (hypotonia), lethargy, weakness, paralysis, and coma (long-term loss of consciousness).</span>
<span class="italic">Possible burning sensation in the mouth, throat, and stomach.</span>
<span class="italic">Absorption of nicotine by ingestion is not complete because acid in the stomach prevents nicotine from being very well absorbed.</span>
Treatment after ingestion:
(per Centers for Disease Control, US)
[C&P'd -
Immediately remove the patient/victim from the source of exposure.
Ensure that the patient/victim has an unobstructed airway.
Do not induce vomiting (emesis).
Patient/victims often vomit spontaneously.
Only if airway is secured administer charcoal as a slurry (240 mL water/30 g charcoal). Usual dose: 25 to 100 g in adults/adolescents, 25 to 50 g in children (1 to 12 years), and 1 g/kg in infants less than 1 year old.
Do not administer antacids; alkaline conditions improve the absorption of nicotine.
Monitor heart function and evaluate for low blood pressure (hypotension), abnormal heart rhythms (dysrhythmias), and reduced respiratory function (respiratory depression).
Evaluate for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), electrolyte disturbances, and low oxygen levels (hypoxia).
If evidence of shock or low blood pressure (hypotension) is observed, begin intravenous (IV) fluid administration. If fluid administration fails to reverse hypotension, dopamine and norepinephrine may be used.
If seizures occur, treat them with benzodiazepines.
Maintain adequate hydration and urine output.
Seek medical attention immediately.]