11% of U.S. Teens Have Tried E-Cigarettes: 14-Year-Old Hospitalized with Lung Infection

In recent years, many people have turned to electronic cigarettes as a substitute for traditional cigarettes, and the variety of flavors available makes it easier for teenagers to get started. According to the U.S. Department of Health Services, 14 teenagers in Wisconsin and Illinois have been hospitalized due to severe lung damage. Investigations revealed that they all had a history of using electronic cigarettes prior to seeking medical attention, with some patients even requiring assistance to breathe.
 
On the 2nd, the Department of Health Services reported that 11 teenagers in Wisconsin were treated for lung damage, while 3 others in Illinois were hospitalized for the same condition. In addition to symptoms like fever, chest pain, and nausea, their lungs showed signs of inflammation and swelling. Respiratory disease specialist Thomas Haupt stated that these symptoms are all indicative of infection. "The only common factor among the patients is their use of electronic cigarettes, but we do not know what substances are contained in the tar and vapor they exhale, which requires further investigation."

Chuck Warzecha, deputy director of the Wisconsin Department of Health, mentioned that these teenagers were hospitalized due to shortness of breath and chest pain. "Some even required machines to assist with breathing. After treatment, their conditions gradually improved, but we do not know if there will be long-term effects." Previously, the American Lung Association expressed concerns about the potential lung hazards posed by electronic cigarettes, as they have only been on the market for 15 years, and experts cannot fully understand the health threats they may pose.

However, according to investigations by the U.S. health authorities, over 3.6 million teenagers in the U.S. are currently using electronic cigarettes. Data from the Wisconsin health department also shows that 11% of middle school students have tried e-cigarettes, with the percentage rising to 32% in high school, and even 20% of students consider themselves smokers. Due to the diverse flavors of electronic cigarettes, over 80% of teenagers who consume high-concentration tobacco reported that they started with these "accessible" special flavors, such as cotton candy and gummy bear.

Despite claims from electronic cigarette manufacturers that their products help reduce cigarette addiction and aid in quitting smoking, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated at the end of last month that traditional cigarettes still account for 97% of the global tobacco market, and tobacco companies develop these new product types solely to expand their market, calling for new tobacco products to be regulated alongside traditional cigarettes.