Oklahoma has its first confirmed case in a rash of lung injuries nationwide tied to vaping.
State Health Department officials said the person is a Tulsa County resident under 18.
"This is a case in Oklahoma that is consistent with what we’re seeing with the nationwide investigation, which is an individual that experienced symptoms of illness that are described as pneumonia with initial symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, that may have also experienced symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, that also had a history of recent e-cigarette or vaping product use," said State Epidemiologist Lawrence Burnsed.
The health department issued an advisory to doctors earlier this month asking them to report cases of severe lung disease with a history of e-cigarette use.
Thousands of young Oklahomans are vaping.
"More than a quarter of high school students are current users or report currently using e-cigarette and vaping products at least one day in the last 30 days. And that’s been drastically increasing just in the last couple years," Burnsed said. "Compared to just two years ago, we’ve seen a 70% increase of e-cigarette use just among adolescents."
About one in 12 Oklahoma adults report using e-cigarettes.
There have been more than 500 reported cases in the U.S. of serious lung injury in people using e-cigarettes. Seven people in six states have died, and many others have been hospitalized.
"Really, we’re advising to consider refraining from using e-cigarette and vaping products while the investigation is ongoing, but, regardless of this investigation, we also strongly advise against buying e-cigarette and vaping products off the street or modifying products or adding substances that are not intended by the manufacturer," Burnsed said.
No specific vaping product or substance has been linked to the lung injury cases so far. Burnsed said people using them to quit smoking should call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
