E-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) is an acute or subacute respiratory illness that can be severe and life-threatening. Vaping is the process of inhaling an aerosol created by heating a substance such as nicotine or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with a battery-operated electronic device such as an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). More than 1400 cases have been reported; approximately 70 percent have been male, and 80 percent are under 35 years old (range 13 to 75 years).EVALI was initially recognized in the summer of 2019.Approximately 30% of patients have underlying asthma. The exact pathogenesis of EVALI is unknown.
EVALI suggests acute lung injury, possibly reflecting a spectrum of disease processes, rather than a single process. No evidence of an infectious etiology has been identified. The key risk factor for EVALI is use of an e-cigarette or…
