A 10-year-old boy was admitted last week to the emergency department at the Ruth Rappaport Children’s Hospital at Rambam after inhaling from a vaping device he found on the street. According to the label on the device, which was brought to Rambam Hospital together with the child, it contained a high percentage of THC, but based on past experience, it was most likely a synthetic cannabinoid and not cannabis.
“The child suffered from dizziness and other symptoms that required hospitalization and overnight observation at the medical center,” said Riyad Sheikh, head nurse at the pediatric emergency department. “This morning, the child’s condition improved, and he was discharged home in good condition.” The vaping device was sent for a thorough analytical examination of its components.
“We have recently witnessed the use of electronic cigarettes starting from a young age,” said Dr. Yael Luria, director of the Israel National Poison Information Center at Rambam. “According to the Ministry of Health’s 2023 report, a survey among students in grades 5–12 found that about 4.5% of 5th–6th graders had tried using an electronic cigarette, and about 3% of 5th–6th graders in Israel smoke electronic cigarettes at least six times a month. The rate increases gradually with age, and by 12th grade, about one-third of students have tried smoking. The phenomenon is expanding, and so are the dangers.”
According to Dr. Luria, the use of “vape” (electronic cigarette) has several aspects, all of which pose risks to users: “Most vaping devices contain nicotine, and exposure to smoking and nicotine products from a young age increases the risk of developing diseases and addiction among smokers. In addition, in recent years there has been a wave of illnesses following the use of various additives introduced into electronic cigarettes, which caused severe lung damage, including a tragic case in Israel that ended in the death of a 16-year-old boy. Moreover, electronic cigarettes sold online or from unofficial sources were found to contain various types of street drugs. In Israel, mainly synthetic cannabinoids have been identified, which can cause severe side effects. Worldwide, a wide range of street drugs have been detected in vaping products, and users are not always aware of their contents. Another aspect is accidental ingestion of the electronic cigarette liquid by toddlers and young children, which may cause severe poisoning,” emphasized Dr. Luria.
Experts at Rambam warn against the use of electronic cigarettes due to the scope of health damage they can cause and stress that in the presence of children, it is essential to keep them strictly out of reach: “Children imitate their surroundings. If they see smoking habits at home, they will act similarly and put the cigarette in their mouth. We don’t want to learn from experience but to prevent the next tragedy,” concluded Dr. Luria.