Health Department

E-Cigarettes and Vaping

E-Cigarettes and Vaping Associated with Severe Lung Disease Hospitalizations

From June 28th to August 23rd, the FDA has reported approximately 193 cases of severe lung disease associated with e-cigarette use, including about 11 cases in Indiana.

Many patients reported a gradual start of symptoms including breathing difficulty, shortness of breath, chest pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and gastrointestinal illness.

The seriousness of these reports have ranged from hospitalizations to needing life support to one confirmed death in Illinois.
Patients have ranged from teens to older adults.

Some individuals developed lipoid pneumonia, a form of pneumonia caused by inhaling fats or oils. Vegetable glycerin, a common oil base in many e-cigarette liquid flavoring, may be the cause.

The CDC has reported 127 cases of seizure and other neurological symptoms since 2010. There was a jump in 92 cases from April 2019 to August 2019.

We do not yet know what ingredients, combination of ingredients, or devices are causing these issues. Patients have reported using THC oil and nicotine e-liquids.

Some cases may have been caused by illicit ‘street vapes’, or e-cigarettes bought off the street.

If you or someone you know believes they have had negative health outcomes due to using e-cigarettes or would like to report a product defect, please use the FDA’s safety reporting portal. https://www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov/SRP2/en/Home.aspx?sid=786196fd-b2e5-437e-a5e2-916f1c61ad63

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/t0823-telebriefing-severe-pulmonary-disease-e-cigarettes.html

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/s0821-cdc-fda-states-e-cigarettes.html

https://www.cnet.com/news/fda-investigating-120-reports-of-possible-vaping-related-seizures/

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