MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Friday the country’s first case of vape-associated lung injury (EVALI) from a 16-year-old girl in the Visayas.
In a statement, a private pulmonologist confirmed to the Health department that the patient, who was admitted to the hospital on Oct. 21, initially presented with “sudden-onset severe shortness of breath, required oxygen supplementation and Intensive Care Unit admission.”
After further investigation, the physician said the girl was diagnosed with EVALI as per the guidelines of US Centers for Disease Control.
The DOH said the patient has been using e-cigarettes for six months while using ordinary cigarettes.
In addition, the DOH said it will coordinate with pulmonologists for updates on the patient’s health condition.
Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo has reminded e-cigarette users to seek immediate medical assistance and ask doctors on how best to quit using vape products.
Domingo also urged minors and adolescents not to use e-cigarettes or vape.
“No e-cigarette product should be accessible to young children and adolescents, who are uniquely susceptible to the harms of e-cigarettes and nicotine. I urge non-users not to even try e-cigarettes at all,” he said.
DOH also called on members of the medical community to ask patients on vaping and e-cigarette use, specifically to those with respiratory symptoms such as “shortness of breath, difficulty of breathing and chest pain.”
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Domingo previously said over 1 million Filipinos, mostly youth, are using e-cigarettes.