The Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating suspected cases of severe lung disease in adolescents who used e-cigarettes.
According to the department, the DSHS was notified of possible cases last week following similar reports in youth and young adults in several other states.
The DSHS is asking health care providers to watch for cases of severe lung disease and ask patients with severe respiratory symptoms about e-cigarette use or vaping. The DSHS is also urging clinicians who identify cases to gather information about the products used and ask patients to save the vaping liquid in case it's needed for testing.
The DSHS says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 94 cases of severe lung disease associated with vaping in 14 states dating back to late June. The patients tested negative for infectious diseases, and some needed hospitalization.
More information is needed to determine a cause for the disease. The DSHS is working with the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and other states to gather evidence about what the cases have in common.
