CT Investigating 5 Hospitalizations After Suspected Vaping

HARTFORD, CT — The state Department of Public Health is warning residents about the potential dangers of using e-cigarette products after five people were hospitalized for severe lung disease possibly related to using the products.

The patients became ill in July and August and since have been discharged from the hospital, according to a statement from DPH.

“These illnesses are very concerning because the use of e-cigarette products is increasing in our state and nationally, particularly among our youth,” said DPH Commissioner Renée D. Coleman-Mitchell. “Some people might not be aware of the health risks associated with using these products. Anyone who has used e-cigarette products and experiences respiratory issues should seek medical care promptly because illnesses can become more severe without proper treatment.”

DPH is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments across the country to investigate the cause of the illnesses. The CDC announced that there are more than 200 cases of severe lung disease nationwide associated with e-cigarette use. Reported symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

Many of the patients reported using products that contained THC. A single or group of products haven't been identified as the cause of the illness, but the CDC warns e-cigarette users to not buy products off the street or modify their devices. The CDC also recommends that youth, young adults and pregnant women avoid using e-cigarette products.

Connecticut passed a law this year that will raise the smoking age to 21. It goes into effect Oct. 1.

E-cigarette use among youth had contributed to a recent rise in the youth smoking rate. E-cigarette use increased 78 percent among high school students between 2017 and 2018 and 48 percent among middle school students, according to the FDA. Usage among high schoolers was 20.8 percent in 2018 and 4.9 percent for middle schoolers. This follows a steady drop in traditional cigarette smoking rates among high school students over the past 20 years. More than 36 percent of students were current smokers in 1997 compared to less than 11 percent in 2015, according to the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

E-cigarettes also known as vaporizers or electronic nicotine delivery systems heat a mixture of chemicals that most often include nicotine into a vapor. Vaporizers come in a wide variety of sizes with some being designed to resemble everyday objects like USB sticks. Manufacturers tout them as a way to get adult smokers off of cigarettes, but they have found a new massive market among youth. A CDC study found that the majority of adults who try e-cigarettes as a way to quit tobacco cigarettes end up using both products.