Two More U.S. States Report Severe Lung Injury Cases Related to E-Cigarettes

According to foreign media reports, on August 4, health officials in Wisconsin disclosed a dozen cases of severe lung disease that appear to be related to the use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices. These cases primarily involve young people and have drawn the attention of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which has encouraged healthcare providers in other states to report any similar cases. Since then, two more states have reported severe lung injury cases related to e-cigarettes.
 
Five days after Wisconsin's report (August 9), the Illinois Department of Public Health issued a statement saying that six "young people" had been hospitalized due to severe respiratory issues after using "e-cigarette" products. Additionally, five similar cases are under investigation.

On August 13, health officials in Minnesota released a similar statement, reporting four cases of "severe lung injury" among teenagers using e-cigarettes and other vaping devices. According to state officials, these cases resulted in multiple weeks of hospitalization, with symptoms similar to those reported in Wisconsin.

Severe Symptoms

This "severe lung injury" is sometimes referred to by public health officials as a disease, but it currently lacks a formal name. The symptoms reported by officials in Minnesota and Illinois are similar to those first reported in Wisconsin, including shortness of breath, cough, fever, difficulty breathing, weight loss, and fatigue. In some cases, patients required ventilators or admission to intensive care units (ICUs) for treatment.

Health officials recommend that anyone using e-cigarettes should seek medical attention immediately if they begin to experience respiratory or other unexplained health issues. If patients develop severe, unexplained lung problems, doctors are encouraged to screen them. The FDA previously issued a warning to the public, indicating that chronic lung disease could occur.

Possible Causes

Health officials currently believe that the unexpected lung issues are related to the use of e-cigarette devices. Unlike the previous two reports, Minnesota health officials reported instances of these cases associated with the use of e-cigarettes and devices used to vaporize THC solutions. However, no single product or source has been linked to all cases.

Officials have pointed out several potential issues, including the possibility of contamination in e-liquid products and the inhalation of heavy metals from liquids or other materials. Many e-cigarette devices on the market could potentially cause these symptoms and are not sold within the FDA's appropriate regulatory framework.