Teen Hospitalized for “Wet Lung” After Vaping

In May this year, the medical journal Pediatrics reported a case study: an 18-year-old girl from Pennsylvania learned to vape while working at a restaurant, but this action led her to the emergency room, paying an unusual price.

Electronic cigarettes are electronic products that mimic traditional cigarettes, having the same appearance, smoke, taste, and feel. They work by vaporizing nicotine and other substances into vapor for users to inhale.

The teenager developed "wet lung" from vaping and was sent to the ICU. According to the case described in Pediatrics, the girl experienced severe discomfort three weeks after using e-cigarettes, with symptoms including severe vomiting, coughing, difficulty breathing, and sudden chest pain during inhalation and exhalation. Soon after, due to the worsening of her symptoms, she was sent to the intensive care unit. In the ICU, she was placed on a ventilator, and tubes were inserted into both sides of her chest to drain fluid from her lungs.

This young woman experienced what is commonly referred to as respiratory failure. Doctors tried to determine why this previously healthy 18-year-old girl, with no medical history, was in such a critical state. After multiple tests, she was diagnosed with allergic pneumonia, commonly known as "wet lung," which is an allergic reaction to chemicals or dust. This condition causes inflammation in the lungs, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

The pediatrician and lead author of the case study, Dr. Casey Sommerfeld, stated that the chemicals in e-cigarettes could cause lung damage and inflammation. Doctors speculate that the girl may have been allergic to a chemical in the e-liquid, triggering an immune response that ultimately led to her critical condition.

Dr. Sommerfeld told CNN: "This immune response can lead to increased inflammation and vascular leakage, which may cause fluid accumulation in the lungs, posing a serious risk to life."
After treatment and antibiotics, the girl was discharged from the hospital five days later. Dr. Sommerfeld stated that while it is not possible to speculate on the likelihood of such cases occurring, as the popularity of e-cigarettes continues to rise, more case studies will reflect the harmful side effects of long-term e-cigarette use. Although this girl is the first diagnosed with wet lung due to vaping, she may not be the last.

In recent years, e-cigarettes, often marketed as harmless, have become a "healthier" alternative to traditional cigarettes. According to CNN, some e-cigarette manufacturers frequently target teenagers in their marketing strategies, leading to an increasing number of adolescents starting to use e-cigarettes. Once teenagers start smoking, 30% may transition to smoking traditional cigarettes within six months, compared to only 8% of non-users. Due to their still-developing bodies, using e-cigarettes can be more dangerous for teenagers than for adults. The case of the Pennsylvania girl sent to the emergency room due to vaping highlights the potential serious consequences of e-cigarettes for adolescents. As a well-known domestic e-cigarette brand, Xiao Latiao does not advocate for non-smokers to use e-cigarettes, and we firmly oppose their use by teenagers. Our goal is to provide traditional smokers with a greener, healthier, and more environmentally friendly way to smoke, helping everyone move away from the high risks of traditional cigarettes and achieve a healthy lifestyle. Limiting adolescent access to e-cigarettes requires joint efforts from the industry and regulatory authorities.