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Massachusetts doctors, nurses have to start reporting vaping-related illnesses

By adamg on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 12:34pm

The state Department of Public Health today ordered doctors and nurse practitioners to begin reporting "any suspected cases of unexplained e-cigarette or vaping-associated pulmonary disease" for at least the next 12 months, as officials here, as elsewhere, try to get a grip on what's putting vapers into the hospital.

Today’s action establishes the legal framework for healthcare providers to report cases and suspected cases so that we can get a better sense of the overall burden of disease in Massachusetts. It also will allow us to provide case counts to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as they continue to try to understand the nationwide impact of vaping-related disease.

The order requires reporting of any cases involving patients "experiencing otherwise unexplained progressive symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, cough, or weight loss, of any severity, and an abnormal chest imaging study associated with vaping."

Free tagging: 
public health
Vaping


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Comments

By anon on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 1:00pm.

All the currently known vape illness patients have this in common.

Also, vape juice, especially from China, is suspect due questionable ingredients.

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By Lecil on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 6:53pm.

I understand that this is the spin the vaping industry is desperately trying to push on the public, but the truth is we just don't know, which is why thorough reporting and investigation is needed.

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By anon on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 7:24pm.

' The new study, reported Friday in The New England Journal of Medicine, focused on 53 patients who had vaped within 90 days of their symptoms, typically within the previous week. Their median age was 19, and nearly a third were younger than 18. Among the 41 patients who were "extensively interviewed," 80 percent reported using THC products, 7 percent mentioned CBD products, and 17 percent said they had vaped nicotine only. The authors note that "information on product use is based on reports by the patients, and patients may be reluctant to report illicit drug use."

https://reason.com/2019/09/09/study-finds-that-the-vast-majority-of-resp...

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By Lecil on Thu, 09/12/2019 - 6:52am.

This is a good start. Further data is still needed.

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By Lee on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 10:46pm.

... vaping related illnesses that is already known to be caused by Juul.

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By Lee on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 10:46pm.

... vaping related illnesses that is already known to be caused by Juul.

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By Lee on Wed, 09/11/2019 - 10:41pm.

.... for DPH.
Let’s hope doctors and NPs follow through even if this adds to their paperwork burden.

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