First Confirmed Case of Underage E-cigarette Related Lung Disease in Costa Rica

News by 2FIRSTS.ai

Nov.17.2023

First Confirmed Case of Underage E-cigarette Related Lung Disease in Costa Rica

Costa Rica reports its first confirmed case of a minor with e-cigarette related lung disease, raising concerns over its safety.

According to a report on November 15 from CNN Spain, the Social Security Fund of Costa Rica (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social) has recently issued a statement confirming the country's first case of an e-cigarette related lung disease in a minor.

According to a report by the organization, a 16-year-old minor has been using e-cigarettes without supervision on a regular basis. As a result, the individual had to spend 29 days in the intensive care unit for treatment, during which mechanical ventilation and intubation were necessary. The organization highlights this case to remind the public once again that e-cigarettes are not harmless and are not a smoking cessation method, as they can potentially be fatal.

According to the institution's statistics, the number of cases related to e-cigarette-associated illnesses in the Costa Rican public healthcare system has risen significantly, from 13 cases in the entire year of 2021 to 857 cases in the first half of 2023. The majority of these cases are reported from clinics in the central region of the country.

In addition, the results of the 2021 National Survey on the Consumption of Psychotropic Substances among the population of secondary education, published by the Institute on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (IAFA) in Costa Rica, reveal a significant increase in the proportion of students who have experimented with nicotine or e-cigarette products, reaching 13.1%. This percentage is nearly triple the findings from the previous survey conducted in 2018 (4.6%).

References:

[1] Menor de edad con enfermedad pulmonar asociada al vapeo enciende las alarmas en Costa Rica

Also Read:

[1] E-cigarette Use Linked to Increased Respiratory Diseases in Youth

[2] Preliminary Evidence of E-cigarette Related Diseases in Colombia

#Costa Rica #E-cigarette #E-cigarettes and Tobacco

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

COP11 Update: Deep Divide Over Regulation of E-cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches as EU Pushes Back Against "Total Ban" Draft

At the ongoing COP11 in Geneva,a bloc led by Brazil and the Maldives has submitted a draft proposing "prohibition" as the primary policy path. In response, the European Union has submitted amendments requesting that the wording be adjusted to optional regulation, preserving the right of member states to decide on sales bans based on their own national laws.

Nov.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai

ZYN Nicotine Pouches Seek MRTP Authorization; FDA Sets January Meeting

The U.S. FDA has scheduled a Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee (TPSAC) meeting for January 22, 2026, to review Swedish Match USA’s Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP) applications for 20 ZYN nicotine pouch products. Although the products gained PMTA authorization in early 2025, MRTP approval is required for marketing them with reduced-risk claims.

Nov.24 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Product | 2Firsts Exclusive: Breaking Down Pachamama 25K, CHUC’s First U.S.-Made Factory Product

U.S. e-cigarette company Charlie’s has brought its first domestic manufacturing facility online, launching the disposable Pachamama 25K, which will initially roll out to 300 retail stores in Texas. The device features a 20 ml e-liquid capacity with 5% nicotine, three power modes and a built-in 1000 mAh battery, and is advertised to deliver up to 25,000 puffs.

Dec.02 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Product | LOST MARY launches X-LINK series on its Russian website: near-identical to ELFBAR JOINOne, plus two new adjustable pods

LOST MARY has officially launched the X-LINK e-cigarette series on its Russian website. The lineup closely mirrors ELFBAR’s JOINOne in architecture and features, and adds two new adjustable pods—one for sweetness control and one for nicotine strength—expanding the compatible pod types to four (cooling/ice, classic, sweetness-adjustable, and nicotine-adjustable).