B.C. may have just seen its first case of a vaping-related illness, in a young patient, and it could be one of many.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry saw a patient recently who used nicotine-based vaping products. He recovered from his illness, but other potential cases are cropping up, showing inflamed lungs. The symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
“This is just another indication that vaping itself is not innocuous,” Henry said to CBC.
These potential cases are from people who use vaping products. Their symptoms are not attributed to any other underlying cause and their X-rays show substances like pus or blood in the lung tissue.
There’s currently no test available, leaving it to a “diagnosis of exclusion,” Henry told CBC. But this disease has affected more than 1,000 people in the U.S. and caused 26 deaths.
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A Growing Trend
Vaping is a growing trend, particularly among teenagers. It is surpassing the use of cigarettes, cannabis and alcohol.
A B.C. Adolescent Health Survey found in 2018, that 21% of teens between 12-19 used vaping products in the past 30 days. That number jumps to 31% from teens between 16-18 years old, a professor at UBC’s School of Nursing, Elizabeth Saewyc, told Vancouver Sun.
With statistics showing its growing popularity, officials are taking action. B.C school districts are calling for higher restrictions on the use of vaping products, while Richmond has banned vaping in public areas. They are also discussing prohibiting vaping advertisements on city property.
Other provinces and territories across Canada are following suit.
For more metro Vancouver news, stayed tuned to our News section.
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