CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) Tennessee state health officials are asking health care providers to continue to report any cases of suspected respiratory illness when treating patients who use e-cigarettes or vape pens.

As of Sept. 19, 2019, the Tennessee Department of Health reported 26 cases of respiratory illnesses in patients who had no other identified cause and had used e-cigarettes in the last 90 days. (https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/vaping-illness.html)

Joey Smith, Director of the Montgomery County Health Department said 14 of the 26 cases have been reported in the Middle Tennessee district. The specific number of cases in each county have not been specified as the research continues.

“Health care providers from across the state are reporting any patients they treat for severe respiratory symptoms who reported vaping in the weeks before they got sick,” Smith said. “The Tennessee Department of Health recently announced that patients associated with this outbreak have had symptoms including cough, shortness of breath and/or chest pain, and growing worse over a period of days or weeks before admission to the hospital. If you or your child use vaping devices and develop any of these symptoms, discontinue vaping and contact a health care provider. “

The Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) latest data shows 530 reported cases of lung injury from 38 states and 1 U.S. territory.

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Seven deaths have been confirmed in 6 states. They continue to investigate the multistate outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarette product (devices, liquid, refill pods, and/or cartridge) use.

E-cigarettes are vapor-emitting devices that have grown into a multi-billion dollar industry despite little research on their long-term effects, including if they are helpful in helping smokers quit.

There are still significant unknowns about the short- and long-term health impacts for those who use or are exposed to second-hand emissions.  It is known to pose an increased risk to youth for the development of nicotine addiction and future chronic tobacco and substance use, the CDC said.

Electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices are not approved by the FDA for smoking cessation. Smokers who are attempting to quit should use evidence-based treatments including counseling and FDA-approved medications, Smith said.

If you need help quitting tobacco products including e-cigarettes, contact your health care provider, your the Montgomery County Health Department, or the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or www.tnquitline.org/.​

Key Facts about E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping

  • Electronic cigarettes – or e-cigarettes — are also called vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
  • Using an e-cigarette product is commonly called vaping.
  • E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.
  • The liquid can contain: nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) oils, and other substances and additives.

Source: The Center for Disease Control, CDC