Vaping induced pneumonitis: a small community hospital’s case series and analysis

Abstract Background Electronic cigarettes/e-cigarettes (ECs), or vaping, is currently the most popular form of smoking amongst youth in the United States. ECs are battery-powered devices that vaporize a liquid that comes in small cartridges, or pods, that contain various chemicals, nicotine, and an...

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Main Authors: Andrew L. Silverman, Haseeb Siddique, Vikas Kumar, Thuy-Hong Le, Joseph Ng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-05-01
Series:BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12890-020-1158-2
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author Andrew L. Silverman
Haseeb Siddique
Vikas Kumar
Thuy-Hong Le
Joseph Ng
author_facet Andrew L. Silverman
Haseeb Siddique
Vikas Kumar
Thuy-Hong Le
Joseph Ng
author_sort Andrew L. Silverman
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Electronic cigarettes/e-cigarettes (ECs), or vaping, is currently the most popular form of smoking amongst youth in the United States. ECs are battery-powered devices that vaporize a liquid that comes in small cartridges, or pods, that contain various chemicals, nicotine, and an array of flavors that can be modified to include cannabinoids (THC). With increasing popularity, however, there is an epidemic of pulmonary and gastrointestinal illnesses associated with vaping in the continental U.S.A. Methods We analyzed medical charts of three patients who were active users of ECs and presented with pneumonitis to our community medical center between January and August 2019. Results We report three cases of vaping pneumonitis in young adults, ages 18 to 21, who presented with similar symptoms, profiles, imaging studies, and disease progression. The average length of stay was approximately one week, and all patients had an extensive work-up in addition to a relapsing and remitting course of their condition. Conclusions Early recognition and diagnosis of vaping pneumonitis are essential in the treatment of the ongoing epidemic. Extensive unnecessary work up may lead to increased healthcare costs. Our case series echoes the concerns of the CDC such that ECs should be avoided, and those with any pulmonary or gastrointestinal symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.
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spelling doaj.art-648eda8e544b4c82bb4378a5e2b0a3022022-12-22T01:54:01ZengBMCBMC Pulmonary Medicine1471-24662020-05-012011610.1186/s12890-020-1158-2Vaping induced pneumonitis: a small community hospital’s case series and analysisAndrew L. Silverman0Haseeb Siddique1Vikas Kumar2Thuy-Hong Le3Joseph Ng4Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Mather Hospital/Northwell HealthDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Mather Hospital/Northwell HealthDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Mather Hospital/Northwell HealthDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Mather Hospital/Northwell HealthDonald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Mather Hospital/Northwell HealthAbstract Background Electronic cigarettes/e-cigarettes (ECs), or vaping, is currently the most popular form of smoking amongst youth in the United States. ECs are battery-powered devices that vaporize a liquid that comes in small cartridges, or pods, that contain various chemicals, nicotine, and an array of flavors that can be modified to include cannabinoids (THC). With increasing popularity, however, there is an epidemic of pulmonary and gastrointestinal illnesses associated with vaping in the continental U.S.A. Methods We analyzed medical charts of three patients who were active users of ECs and presented with pneumonitis to our community medical center between January and August 2019. Results We report three cases of vaping pneumonitis in young adults, ages 18 to 21, who presented with similar symptoms, profiles, imaging studies, and disease progression. The average length of stay was approximately one week, and all patients had an extensive work-up in addition to a relapsing and remitting course of their condition. Conclusions Early recognition and diagnosis of vaping pneumonitis are essential in the treatment of the ongoing epidemic. Extensive unnecessary work up may lead to increased healthcare costs. Our case series echoes the concerns of the CDC such that ECs should be avoided, and those with any pulmonary or gastrointestinal symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12890-020-1158-2E-cigarettesPneumonitisVapingCannabinoids (THC)
spellingShingle Andrew L. Silverman
Haseeb Siddique
Vikas Kumar
Thuy-Hong Le
Joseph Ng
Vaping induced pneumonitis: a small community hospital’s case series and analysis
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
E-cigarettes
Pneumonitis
Vaping
Cannabinoids (THC)
title Vaping induced pneumonitis: a small community hospital’s case series and analysis
title_full Vaping induced pneumonitis: a small community hospital’s case series and analysis
title_fullStr Vaping induced pneumonitis: a small community hospital’s case series and analysis
title_full_unstemmed Vaping induced pneumonitis: a small community hospital’s case series and analysis
title_short Vaping induced pneumonitis: a small community hospital’s case series and analysis
title_sort vaping induced pneumonitis a small community hospital s case series and analysis
topic E-cigarettes
Pneumonitis
Vaping
Cannabinoids (THC)
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12890-020-1158-2
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