MD Vaping Cases Triple, 15 Patients Suffer Severe Lung Illness

BALTIMORE, MD — As more cases surfaced of people who vaped suffering serious lung ailments and President Trump urged that the use of e-cigarettes be curtailed, Maryland health officials reported that the number of vaping-related lung cases in the state has tripled. As of Sept. 10, a total of 15 Marylanders have developed severe lung illness with no clear infectious cause after using e-cigarettes, or vaping, according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Patients report using e-cigarettes or vaping in the weeks or months before they became ill had respiratory symptoms that include: shortness of breath, chest pain, pain when breathing, wheezing cough and coughing up blood. Other symptoms reported by many patients include: fever, chills, nausea, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.

People who became ill reported using a range of products, including both marijuana- or THC-containing products, and nicotine-containing products, authorities said.

To date, none of the cases in Maryland have been fatal. These cases are part of more than 450 reported incidents of vaping-related illness in 33 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Nationwide there have been six deaths confirmed.

"This is a serious and potentially life-threating illness," said Bruce Anderson, Executive Director of the Maryland Poison Center. "If you have used e-cigarettes or vaped in the past weeks or months, and you start to have trouble breathing, stop using these products and seek immediate medical attention."

Many vaping products have been found to contain substances that can be toxic when inhaled and might not be listed on product packaging.

"There is so much we don't know about the contents of these products. The best way to keep yourself safe is to not use e-cigarettes or vapes," said Dawn Berkowitz, director for the MDH Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control. "We know quitting is hard, but there are resources available to help. Trained professionals are available 24/7 to help you stop vaping or smoking."

The CDC has issued an advisory on e-cigarettes, saying:

• The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.
• Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.
• E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine.
• Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.
• The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.

What are e-cigarettes?

• E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, or mix of small particles in the air.
• Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items.
• The liquid used in e-cigarettes often contains nicotine and flavorings. This liquid is sometimes called "e-juice," "e-liquid," "vape juice," or "vape liquid."
• Users inhale e-cigarette aerosol into their lungs. Bystanders can also breathe in this aerosol when the user exhales it into the air.
• E-cigarette devices can be used to deliver marijuana and other drugs.

MDH encourages medical providers caring for patients with unexplained serious respiratory illness to ask about a history of recent e-cigarette use or vaping, and to report suspected cases to their local health department.

MDH will post updated case information as it becomes available to https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/OEHFP/EH/Pages/VapingIllness.aspx.

For free help to stop using these devices or any tobacco product, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.