The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an advisory in response to the recent rash of cases of severe pulmonary disease associated with the use of e-cigarettes, vaping liquids, refill pods, and cartridges.
According to the CDC, 215 possible cases of the disease have been reported from 25 states as of August 27, 2019; one patient in Illinois passed away after being hospitalized with the condition.
Patients with the condition report experiencing cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, fever, and weight loss have also been reported.
Some patients have been treated with supplemental oxygen while others have required assisted ventilation, oxygenation, and intubation.
“All patients have reported using e-cigarette products and the symptom onset has ranged from a few days to several weeks after e-cigarette use,” states the advisory. “Within two states, recent inhalation of cannabinoid products, THC or cannabidiol, have been reported in many of the patients. To date, no single substance or e-cigarette product has been consistently associated with the illness.”
CDC recommends that anyone who may be concerned about health risks from vaping should refrain from using e-cigarette products.
For those who do not wish to refrain from vaping, CDC suggests purchasing products from legal sources and advises against modifying e-cigarette products or using them for unintended purposes.
Clinicians are advised to report cases of severe pulmonary disease of unclear origin and a history of e-cigarette product use within the past 90 days to their state or local health department.
CDC is currently working with state health departments to collect product specimens for testing at the Food and Drug Administration’s Forensic Chemistry Center.
