A comprehensive scientific review has revealed that the use of e-cigarettes among children and young adults is linked to an increased risk of respiratory and mental health problems.
Doctors from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health reviewed 81 studies examining the health and social effects of e-cigarette use among children and young people. The review concluded that there is a link between vaping and respiratory problems, including coughing and wheezing, as well as anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
The results also showed an association between e-cigarette use and sleep problems, eye diseases, and oral health disorders, including infections, ulcers, and dry mouth.
The researchers pointed to evidence of potential negative effects in children exposed to e-cigarettes during pregnancy, including increased abnormal reactions, decreased motor maturity, and impaired elf-control.
Doctors warned that the risks of e-cigarettes are not limited to direct health effects, as the review concluded that there is strong evidence that the use of e-cigarettes increases the likelihood of young people who have never smoked starting to smoke traditional cigarettes later on.
The researchers, in findings published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, said there is consistent evidence that young people who use e-cigarettes suffer from higher rates of coughing, wheezing and other respiratory symptoms compared to non-smokers.
They added that evidence is mounting regarding a wider range of potential health harms that may affect children and young people, including mental health, oral and dental health, allergies, sleep disorders and eye symptoms, along with potential adverse outcomes for maternal and child health in the perinatal period for children exposed to nicotine during pregnancy.
Professor Will Carroll, who co-authored the study, said that e-cigarette use "should not be dismissed as a harmless part of development."
