Vaping Hospitalizes 9 With Severe Breathing Problems In Illinois

ILLINOIS — Many people think vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking, according to the American Heart Association, but increasing reports of illness, breathing problems and even severe lung damage show that e-cigarettes may be dangerous, even in the short term. The Illinois Department of Public Health on Friday said that six young people were hospitalized with severe breathing problems after vaping, and health officials are investigating five additional reports of vaping-related illness.

The six new cases are in addition to three reports of young people who were hospitalized after vaping earlier this month. Those cases, reported by IDPH on Aug. 2, also involved patients who experienced severe breathing problems. All of those cases were in northeastern Illinois, officials said.

IPDH said all six new patients experienced respiratory symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath and fatigue. Some also experienced vomiting and diarrhea. Health officials said symptoms worsened over a period of days or weeks before the patients were admitted to hospitals.

"IDPH is working with local health departments and hospitals to investigate reported cases of hospitalized individuals with unexplained respiratory illness and a history of vaping," said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. "The short- and long-term effects of vaping are still being researched, but these recent hospitalizations have shown that there is the potential for immediate health consequences."

IDPH said the six new patients live in the northeastern part of Illinois and the St. Louis Metro East area but did not provide any additional information, citing the need to protect the patients' identities.

The Illinois illnesses come weeks after health officials in Wisconsin said eight teenagers were hospitalized with seriously damaged lungs in July. All eight teens admitted to vaping prior to becoming ill.

IDPH said it is working with local health departments, other states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration to investigate the names and types of vaping products used by the six Illinois patients, as where they were obtained. Without this information, health officials say they cannot pinpoint which chemicals may have caused the illness.

IDPH said anyone who experiences any type of chest pain or difficulty breathing after vaping should seek immediate medical attention, and health care providers caring for patients with unexpected serious respiratory illness should ask about a history of vaping.

According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, as of July 31, 2019, poison control centers have managed 2,439 exposure cases about e-cigarette devices and liquid nicotine in 2019.

In April, Illinois became the first Midwestern state to ban the purchase of tobacco and tobacco accessories — including vape pens and e-cigarettes — by those under age 21 with the Tobacco 21 bill.

Amid reports of vaping-related illness, Lake County State's Attorney Michael G. Nerheim announced he and his legal partners have filed a lawsuit against e-cigarette maker Juul Labs. The suit claims Juul is intentionally pushing teens to become hooked on nicotine-aided e-cigarettes through deceptive marketing campaigns.

Joining Nerheim in filing the suit on Tuesday are Chicago law firms of Romanucci and Blandin, LLC; Hart McLaughlin and Eldridge, LLC; and Edelson, PC. The state's attorney said the suit is the first of its kind in the United States.

The suit claims Juul launched a massive online advertising campaign that specifically targeted teenagers on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The lawsuit says Juul "pushed teens to take pictures of themselves using the product, then asked teens to post those pictures on social media using the Juul hashtag."

"Juul's predatory strategies of targeting teens became so obvious that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration opened its own investigation into Juul's youth advertising campaign," Nerheim said in a press release. "In response, Juul announced they would 'shut down' its social media accounts and made promises to stop focusing their marketing toward teens."