New Hampshire Running Totals

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The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), is closely following the reports of severe lung illness potentially related to vaping among teens and adults across the United States. As part of these efforts, DPHS is partnering with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate any such cases that occur in New Hampshire so we can understand how to prevent and treat these illnesses.

https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/tobacco/lung-disease-vaping.htm

Edited September 26, 2019 by niman

[niman]

Severe Lung Disease/Injuries Associated with Vaping

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), is closely following the reports of severe lung illness potentially related to vaping among teens and adults across the United States. As part of these efforts, DPHS is partnering with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate any such cases that occur in New Hampshire so we can understand how to prevent and treat these illnesses.

WMUR Health Headlines: Severe Lung Disease/Injuries Associated with Vaping (length 3:19 minutes)

What are e-cigarettes/vaping?

E-cigarettes are a diverse group of battery-powered devices that mimic the act of smoking by producing an aerosol. The aerosol is created by heating a liquid mixture containing nicotine and/or cannabis, flavorings, and other chemicals, which are inhaled (called “vaping.”) The aerosol that users inhale contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:

• Nicotine
• Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
• Flavoring such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease
• Volatile organic compounds
• Cancer-causing chemicals
• Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead

Situation

At the beginning of August, CDC announced that a cluster of patients in the mid-West were hospitalized with a respiratory illness associated with vaping. Since those reports, other states around the country have identified more people with possible vaping-associated respiratory illness.

The cause of these illnesses is still under investigation, but all of these persons have reported vaping in the weeks and months prior to going into the hospital. There has not been one chemical or vaping product used by all individuals. 

Most patients who have become ill had progressive respiratory symptoms including difficulty breathing, cough, and chest pain with breathing.  Some people have even reported gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.  Medical evaluations have not shown that an infectious disease is the cause of a person’s symptoms. It is still unclear the best treatment for patients when they present with these vaping-associated respiratory illnesses.What can New Hampshire residents do to protect themselves and their families?E-cigarette use and vaping among youth and young adults is a major public health issue with e-cigarette use now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. Almost a quarter (24%) of all high school aged adolescents in New Hampshire reported recently using electronic vapor products (the U.S. average is approximately 13%). Parents, guardians, and youth should be aware of the risk that e-cigarette use and vaping poses to their health and take steps to stop or prevent use of vaping and/or other tobacco products. People experiencing respiratory symptoms after vaping should seek medical care.Investigating Possible Connection with Vaping

Because the cause of the these illnesses are being investigated around the country, if a healthcare provider suspects his/her patient might have a vaping-associated respiratory illness, it is important for that healthcare provider to obtain more information about the person’s use of vaping and e-cigarette use, including:

• Type of product and device used (e.g. liquids, refill pods, and/or cartridges
• Sharing and re-use of old cartridges or pods
• Types of drugs (e.g. nicotine and/or cannabis)
• Method(s) of heating and inhaling drug (e.g., smoking, vaping, “dabbing”)
• Whether there may be retained product, device, or chemical for further public health testing

CDC recommends that clinicians report cases of significant respiratory illness of unclear etiology and a history of vaping to the appropriate state and/or local health department. For additional information, healthcare providers should consult the NH Health Alert messages.

 

US Food and Drug Safety Reporting Tool

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is continuing to investigate a possible link between e-cigarettes and seizures or other neurologic symptoms. FDA "strongly" encourages health providers and the public to report details of any incidents of seizures following e-cigarette use via its Safety Reporting Portal.

Additional Information

• CDC Outbreak of Severe Pulmonary Disease Associated with Using E-cigarette Products
• CDC Electronic Cigarettes
• NH Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program E-Cigarettes/Vape
• Coming October 1: My Life, My Quit – New Hampshire’s Tobacco Quitline for Teens

If you have additional questions, please contact the NH Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program by email at [email protected].

[niman]

Concord, NH – The first person with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use or “vaping” has been identified in New Hampshire after an investigation by the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS).

 

The individual was an adult from Sullivan County, who developed respiratory symptoms and had chest imaging showing evidence of lung injury, consistent with other cases reported nationally. This person reported recent vaping of nicotine products. The individual was hospitalized but has since been discharged.

[niman]

NH Department of Health and Human Services                                129 Pleasant Street – Hugh Gallen State Office Park Concord, NH 03301
PRESS RELEASE	FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Public Information Office
October 7, 2019	603-271-9389 or [email protected]
NH DHHS Reports First Vaping-Related Lung Injury   Concord, NH – The first person with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use or “vaping” has been identified in New Hampshire after an investigation by the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS).   The individual was an adult from Sullivan County, who developed respiratory symptoms and had chest imaging showing evidence of lung injury, consistent with other cases reported nationally. This person reported recent vaping of nicotine products. The individual was hospitalized but has since been discharged.   DHHS has been working closely with healthcare providers and with the investigation conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to identify individuals affected by vaping so we can better understand what is causing these preventable life threatening health complications.   “Vaping-associated lung injury is a national problem, and unfortunately New Hampshire is the latest state to be included in the national outbreak investigation,” said Dr. Benjamin Chan, NH State Epidemiologist. “The ongoing investigation into these illnesses has not yet identified a specific cause. And even though a majority of patients report vaping THC products, some have reported only vaping nicotine products. Until we have more information from the national investigation, no vaping is considered safe.” As of October 1, there are 1,080 lung injury cases reported from 48 states and 1 U.S. territory. Of these reported cases, eighteen deaths have been confirmed in 15 states. All reported patients have a history of e-cigarette/vaping product use. The majority (80%) are under 35 years old, and more than one-in-three (37%) are 20 years of age or younger, highlighting the significant impact this outbreak is having on our adolescents and young adults. The latest findings from the national investigation suggest products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) play a central role in the outbreak because the majority of affected individuals have reported THC vaping product use; however, a number of individuals have reported only nicotine e-cigarette use. The specific chemical exposure causing the lung injuries remains unknown at this time as no single product or substance has been linked to all lung injury cases. Symptoms of vaping-related lung injuries include cough, shortness of breath or chest pain. Some patients have also experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. Other symptoms include fatigue and fever. Individuals who use e-cigarettes or vaping products and are experiencing any of these symptoms should ask their healthcare provider to check for lung injury. The CDC recommends not using e-cigarettes, or vaping products, particularly those containing THC. E-cigarettes should not be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products. Adults who use e-cigarettes because they have quit smoking should be offered FDA approved quit therapy, and should not return to smoking cigarettes. The DHHS Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program provides help quitting all tobacco and nicotine products by contacting Quit Now NH, online or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Teens can visit My Life, My Quit online, call or text 1-855-891-9989.

[niman]

NH DHHS Reports First Vaping-Related Lung Injury

By DHHS News Release 6 mins ago

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Concord, NH – The first person with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use or “vaping” has been identified in New Hampshire after an investigation by the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Public Health Services (DPHS).

The individual was an adult from Sullivan County, who developed respiratory symptoms and had chest imaging showing evidence of lung injury, consistent with other cases reported nationally. This person reported recent vaping of nicotine products. The individual was hospitalized but has since been discharged.

DHHS has been working closely with healthcare providers and with the investigation conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to identify individuals affected by vaping so we can better understand what is causing these preventable life threatening health complications.

“Vaping-associated lung injury is a national problem, and unfortunately New Hampshire is the latest state to be included in the national outbreak investigation,” said Dr. Benjamin Chan, NH State Epidemiologist. “The ongoing investigation into these illnesses has not yet identified a specific cause. And even though a majority of patients report vaping THC products, some have reported only vaping nicotine products. Until we have more information from the national investigation, no vaping is considered safe.”

As of October 1, there are 1,080 lung injury cases reported from 48 states and 1 U.S. territory. Of these reported cases, eighteen deaths have been confirmed in 15 states. All reported patients have a history of e-cigarette/vaping product use. The majority (80%) are under 35 years old, and more than one-in-three (37%) are 20 years of age or younger, highlighting the significant impact this outbreak is having on our adolescents and young adults.

The latest findings from the national investigation suggest products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) play a central role in the outbreak because the majority of affected individuals have reported THC vaping product use; however, a number of individuals have reported only nicotine e-cigarette use. The specific chemical exposure causing the lung injuries remains unknown at this time as no single product or substance has been linked to all lung injury cases.

Symptoms of vaping-related lung injuries include cough, shortness of breath or chest pain. Some patients have also experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. Other symptoms include fatigue and fever. Individuals who use e-cigarettes or vaping products and are experiencing any of these symptoms should ask their healthcare provider to check for lung injury.

The CDC recommends not using e-cigarettes, or vaping products, particularly those containing THC. E-cigarettes should not be used by youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products. Adults who use e-cigarettes because they have quit smoking should be offered FDA approved quit therapy, and should not return to smoking cigarettes.

The DHHS Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program provides help quitting all tobacco and nicotine products by contacting Quit Now NH, online or by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Teens can visit My Life, My Quit online, call or text 1-855-891-9989.

http://indepthnh.org/2019/10/07/nh-dhhs-reports-first-vaping-related-lung-injury/