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%).

 

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

Canada Studies UK-Style “Smoke-Free Generation” Tobacco Ban
Canada Studies UK-Style “Smoke-Free Generation” Tobacco Ban
Canada’s federal health minister, Majorie Michel, said she is looking into legislation that would permanently ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born after 2008. She said Canada has seen the approach recently proposed in the United Kingdom and is reviewing it with partners. Health Canada previously said the Government of Canada has invested C$66 million annually since 2018 to help Canadians quit smoking and reduce the harms of nicotine addiction.
Apr.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
 RFK Jr. Spokesman Resigns Over FDA Authorization of Fruit-Flavored Vapes
RFK Jr. Spokesman Resigns Over FDA Authorization of Fruit-Flavored Vapes
Richard Danker, a senior public affairs official in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s team, resigned from his role at HHS over the FDA’s recent authorization of fruit-flavored vaping products. In a resignation letter addressed to President Donald Trump, Danker argued that the products could expose minors to nicotine addiction, lung damage, and increased cancer risks, while also conflicting with recent HHS guidance on youth risks associated with flavored nicotine products.
News
May.15
Shunhao Shares Reports 2025 Revenue of RMB 1.188 Billion, While Q1 2026 Net Profit Rises 49.94% and New Tobacco Operations Continue
Shunhao Shares Reports 2025 Revenue of RMB 1.188 Billion, While Q1 2026 Net Profit Rises 49.94% and New Tobacco Operations Continue
Shunhao Shares’ 2025 annual report summary and first-quarter 2026 report show that the company recorded 2025 revenue of RMB 1.188 billion, down 21.78% year on year, while net profit attributable to shareholders rose 30.00% to RMB 58.94 million. In the first quarter of 2026, revenue was RMB 291.51 million, down 10.34% year on year, while attributable net profit rose 49.94% to RMB 19.98 million.
Apr.29 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Ukrainian Prosecutors and Economic Security Bureau Dismantle Illegal Vape Liquid Network Worth About UAH 30 Million
Ukrainian Prosecutors and Economic Security Bureau Dismantle Illegal Vape Liquid Network Worth About UAH 30 Million
Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General and the Bureau of Economic Security said they uncovered an illegal production and sales scheme for e-cigarette liquids that had been operating in Ukraine since 2023.
Apr.14 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Disposable Vape Ban Shifts Purchasing Formats as UK Vape Volume Falls 10.3%
Disposable Vape Ban Shifts Purchasing Formats as UK Vape Volume Falls 10.3%
Data from convenience insight agency Talysis shows that the value of tobacco, vapes and smoking alternatives in the independent convenience sector fell by 4.4% in the first quarter of 2026, while volume fell by 7.8%. The vaping subcategory declined by 3.9% in value and 10.3% in volume over the same period. Talysis said the impact of the disposable vape ban continues to pressure turnover and footfall.
May.08 by 2FIRSTS.ai
BAT France Confirms Full Compliance as France Implements Nicotine Pouch Ban on April 1from April 2026
BAT France Confirms Full Compliance as France Implements Nicotine Pouch Ban on April 1from April 2026
BAT France said that, under the decree of September 5, 2025 that entered into force on April 1, 2026, it has stopped commercialising its nicotine pouch products in France from that date.
Apr.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai