Vaping begins to be a health problem in the United States

One person died of serious respiratory problems after consuming electronic cigarettes in the United States, where 193 cases of patients with similar symptoms who had been previously vaporized were detected.

The Government Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted that the specific cause of this death had not yet been established, but that many cases of patients with severe respiratory illness had consumed products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive component of marijuana.

"We have detected 193 potential, yet unconfirmed cases of severe lung disease badociated with the use of electronic cigarettes in 22 states and one death in Illinois has been reported," said the deputy director by interim for non-infectious diseases of the CDC, Ileana Arias, during a press conference call.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that although it is generally thought that electronic cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes, the long-term effects remain unknown.

Arias pointed out that "the available evidence suggests that the origin is not an infectious disease," he added.

"Although the cases seem similar, it's not clear if they have a common cause," said the CDC official.

Many of those affected are minors and young adults.

Patients experienced symptoms such as difficulty breathing, apnea and chest pain prior to hospitalization. Some cases have also suffered from gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.

A large number of patients, including those who died in Illinois, have recently admitted to taking tetrahydrocannabinol. Arias said that, although the cases seem similar, they have not been linked to a specific product or manufacturer. On Wednesday, the CDC reported that it has detected more than 149 possible cases of serious lung diseases badociated with the electronic cigarette.

These cases were discovered between June 28 and August 20 in 15 states, such as California, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Utah and Wisconsin.

Youth

Teenage vaping is already a global epidemic affecting 3.6 million juveniles using Juul and other electronic cigarettes. But no one knows what is the best way to help teens who may be addicted to nicotine.

The electronic cigarette is now the substance of the greatest risk used by adolescents, according to US authorities, who say that Juul and similar products spread faster than cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana and other substances.

Electronic cigarettes heat a liquid solution that usually contains nicotine and produces an inhalable vapor.

In countries like the United States, it is forbidden to sell these cigarettes to people under the age of 18, but they say they have them with friends or online.

Argentina

The electronic cigarette is banned in Argentina. Yet, it is more and more used. Last Friday, the 1 International Forum on Electronic Cigarettes was held in Buenos Aires. Its organizers stress it as a "fact without precedent in the world", because it has gathered the main references of Latin American and European societies, especially in this area, as part of the 46th Argentine Congress of Respiratory Medicine.

The experts examined whether e-cigarettes were used to combat tobacco use. There were exhibitions of patient experiences, pros and cons.