Wisconsin and Illinois Report Cases of Severe Lung Disease Tied to Vaping

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and Jaye Elizabeth Hefner, MD

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is reporting 11 confirmed cases of severe lung disease linked to recent vaping among teens and young adults; an additional seven cases are pending investigation. At the same time, the Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating three cases.

All confirmed cases required hospitalization. Patients presented with cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue, which became worse over days or weeks before admission. Some patients also had fever, anorexia, pleuritic chest pain, nausea, and diarrhea. Chest radiographs revealed bilateral opacities, usually in the lower lobes, and computed tomographic imaging showed diffuse ground-glass opacities.

Endotracheal intubation was required in some patients. Although patients improved with systemic steroids, "it is not known if there will be long-term health effects," according to Wisconsin's health department.

Tests for infectious causes in the Wisconsin patients were negative. All patients reported vaping in the weeks or months before hospitalization; investigators are still compiling information on the types of vaping products used.