A teenager in Labuan is reportedly being treated for severe internal lung damage suspected to have been caused by excessive vaping.
Oh no!
News agency Bernama reported that this is the first case of vaping-related illness recorded in Malaysia.
The 17-year-old was reportedly sent to the internal care unit (ICU) of the Labuan Nucleus Hospital after suffering from breathing difficulties.
Initially, the asthmatic boy, who had reportedly been vaping two weeks before that, was thought to be suffering from breathing difficulties due to the condition, but doctors later said he has internal lung injuries, rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari told the news agency that their initial investigations revealed that the boy was not only suffering from lung injuries, but it could also be due to "autoimmune disease caused by chemical exposure or vaping.”
Doctors are currently conducting further tests on the boy, Dr Ismuni said, adding that a definite conclusion can only be made after the test results come back.
While we all know that the government is studying whether to implement a full ban on electronic cigarettes following a worrying rise in vaping among youths, it’s always better to take precautions and hopefully, this news report would serve as a wake up call.
So far, such vaping-related illnesses have only been reported in the United States -- with more 2,000 cases having been recorded, the news report said -- and the mysterious workings surrounding the illness have not yet been fully understood by the medical community.
So, try not to vape so much, because there might not be a cure for the illness yet.