Doctors have warned that vapes could cause deadly allergic reactions in children — adding to the long list of health harms associated with the devices.
While e-cigarettes are illegal to sell to those under 18, one in four children have tried the vaping, and one in 10 now use vapes regularly, according to the latest statistics.
Now there are concerns that flavoured vapes, which can contain traces of allergens such nuts, dairy or gluten, are landing children in hospital.
Earlier this year, NHS data recorded a 733 per cent surge in teens or younger Brits being hospitalised after vaping since 2020, with some patients as young as four.
Experts warn the risk of an allergic reaction from vapes is particularly high in flavours designed to mimic certain food or sweet treats, which are known to be popular among children.
An allergy charity is now calling on vape manufacturers to start putting allergy warnings on their products.
As the devices are not classed as a ‘food or drink’ there is currently no legal requirement for them to do so.
Vapes could potentially cause life-threatening allergic reactions in children, experts have warned. Stock image. Stock image
Some allergic reactions to vapes also occur without a known food trigger, but instead are sparked by a substance called propylene glycol, a colourless liquid used to sweeten the vapour in many e-cigarettes.
Many people can be allergic to propylene glycol but are unlikely to come into contact with it.
Sufferers experience wheezing, asthma attacks and hives when they ingest the liquid or inhale it from vapour exhaled by another user.
One famous example of a vaping allergy is that of Ewan Fisher.
The then 16-year-old almost died in 2017 from a vaping reaction which left him vomiting a neon green liquid and gasping for breath as his organs failed.
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, documenting cases of vape related allergic reactions have warned ‘we consider e-cigarettes “much safer than tobacco” at our peril.’
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, set up in memory of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died after an allergic reaction to a Pret baguette, is raising awareness about the dangers of a severe reaction to vapes.
One famous example of a vaping allergy is that of Ewan Fisher who at 16 almost died from a extreme reaction where the air sacs and airways in the lungs become severely inflamed
Natasha’s father and foundation founder Nadim Ednan-Laperouse aid reports of allergic reactions from second-hand vape smoke ‘extremely concerning’.
‘Many teenagers and their parents will be unaware of this potential risk from vapes,’ he told The Times.
‘The evidence linking vape smoke and allergic reactions is still emerging, and labelling law need to keep up so that where the eliquid may contain nuts or one of the 14 allergens, this is stated on the packaging.’
Becky Gittins, the Labour MP for Clwyd East, and a parliamentary ambassador for the foundation, said that flavoured vapes should have allergy information displayed clearly on their labels.
‘We hear people talking about vapes and young people and asthma, but you don’t necessarily hear them talking about the possibility of allergic reactions and anaphylaxis and vapes and that’s something I want to explore.’
Last month Labour put forward a Bill with several measures to crackdown on vapes in stop children from using up the devices.
Packaged as part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, these included a restriction in vape flavours popular among children, like those resembling sweets, 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 is ‘growing at an alarming rate’.
NHS Digital data, based on the smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England survey for the year 2021, showed 30 per cent of children in Yorkshire and the Humber have used a vape
He added it was ‘unacceptable’ that vapes are being deliberately targeted at children with flavours like ‘gummy bear and rainbow burst’.
Most experts agree that vaping is safer than smoking, and adult smokers should be encouraged to make the switch.
However, there are increasing concerns about people who have never smoked picking up a vaping habit, especially children.
Although widely agreed as safer than smoking, vaping isn’t risk free. E-cigarettes contain harmful toxins, and their long-term effects remain a mystery.
Doctors have expressed fear there could be a wave of lung disease, dental issues and even cancer in the coming decades in people who took up the habit at a young age.
