Doctors have warned that fumes can cause fatal allergic reactions in children, adding to the long list of health harms associated with the devices.
Although it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to people under the age of 18, one in four children have tried vaping, and according to the latest statistics, one in ten children now use vaping regularly.
Now there are concerns that flavored vapes, which may contain traces of allergens such as nuts, dairy or gluten, are putting children in hospital.
Earlier this year, NHS data recorded a 733 per cent increase in the number of teenagers or younger Brits admitted to hospital after vaping since 2020, with some patients as young as four years old.
Experts warn that the risk of an allergic reaction from vaping is especially high with flavors designed to mimic certain foods or sweet treats known to be popular among children.
An allergy charity is now calling on vape manufacturers to put allergy warnings on their products.
As the devices are not classified as ‘food or drink’ there is currently no legal requirement to do so.
Vapes could cause potentially life-threatening allergic reactions in children, experts warn. Stock image. Stock image
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Some allergic reactions to vapors also occur without a known food trigger, but are instead caused by a substance called propylene glycol, a colorless liquid used to sweeten the vapor in many e-cigarettes.
Many people may be allergic to propylene glycol, but they are unlikely to come into contact with it.
Patients experience wheezing, asthma attacks and hives when they swallow the liquid or inhale vapor exhaled by another user.
A famous example of a vape allergy is that of Ewan Fisher.
The then 16-year-old nearly died in 2017 from a vapor reaction that left him vomiting neon green liquid and gasping for breath as his organs shut down.
Mr Fisher, from Nottingham, suffered from hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a type of allergic reaction where the air sacs and airways in the lungs become severely inflamed.
Medics, who document cases of vape-related allergic reactions, have warned that “we consider e-cigarettes ‘much safer than tobacco’ at our own risk.”
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, established in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died after an allergic reaction to a Pret baguette, is raising awareness of the dangers of a severe reaction to vaping.
A famous example of a vape allergy is that of Ewan Fisher who almost died at the age of 16 from an extreme reaction in which the air sacs and airways in the lungs became severely inflamed.
Natasha’s father and founder of the foundation, Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, says reports of allergic reactions from passive smoking are ‘extremely worrying’.
“Many teens and their parents may not be aware of this potential risk of vaping,” he said The times.
‘The evidence linking vape smoke and allergic reactions continues to emerge, and labeling legislation must keep pace so that where the e-liquid may contain nuts or any of the fourteen allergens, this is stated on the packaging.’
Becky Gittins, the Labor MP for Clwyd East, and a parliamentary ambassador for the foundation, said that on flavored vapes the allergy information should be clearly displayed on the label.
“We hear people talking about vaping and young people and asthma, but you don’t necessarily hear them talking about the possibility of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis and vaping and that’s something I want to explore.”
Last month, Labor introduced a bill containing several measures to crack down on vaping and prevent children from using the devices.
These were packaged as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Act and included a restriction on vape flavors popular among children, such as those that resemble candy, and a review of packaging to reduce their appeal to young people.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting warned at the time that the number of children vaping was ‘growing at an alarming rate’.
NHS Digital data, based on the Smoking, Drinking and Drugs Among Young People in England Survey for the year 2021, showed that 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape
He added that it is “unacceptable” that vapes are deliberately targeted at children with flavors such as “gummy bear and rainbow burst.”
Most experts agree that vaping is safer than smoking, and adult smokers should be encouraged to switch.
However, there are increasing concerns about people who have never smoked developing a vaping habit, especially children.
Although it is generally agreed that vaping is safer than smoking, vaping is not without risk. E-cigarettes contain harmful toxins and their long-term effects remain a mystery.
Doctors have expressed fears that a wave of lung disease, dental problems and even cancer could occur in the coming decades in people who started the habit at a young age.