A TEENAGER is being treated at the Labuan Nucleus Hospital in Labuan for severe internal lung damage suspected to have been caused by vaping.
It is the first case of vaping-related illness to have emerged in Malaysia, Bernama reported.
The 17-year-old boy, who is asthmatic, was admitted to the internal care unit (ICU) of the hospital on Nov 4 with breathing difficulties initially thought to have been caused by his medical condition.
But doctors at the ICU diagnosed him with having internal lung injuries, rhabdomyolysis and kidney failure.
Further investigation revealed that the teen had been vaping two weeks prior to falling ill, said Labuan Health Department director Dr Ismuni Bohari.
He added that further tests are being conducted on the boy, and appealed to the public not to speculate on the cause of his condition.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said on Friday that it is studying whether to implement a full ban on electronic cigarettes following a worrying rise in vaping among youths.
According to Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye, the ministry has set up a special committee to study the matter.
Vaping-related illness – a new condition not yet fully understood by the medical community – has so far been confined to the United States, where over 2,000 cases have been recorded.