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

Philippine Customs Seizes Illegal Vape Products Worth Up to PHP 1.4 Billion in Navotas Warehouse
Philippine Customs Seizes Illegal Vape Products Worth Up to PHP 1.4 Billion in Navotas Warehouse
The Philippine Bureau of Customs seized illegal vape products worth an estimated PHP 1 billion to PHP 1.4 billion at a warehouse in Navotas City. Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the operation was the agency’s largest crackdown on illegal vape products since 2024.
Mar.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philippine Anti-Smoking Groups Urge DTI Action Over Alleged Vape Law Violations by ZYN and IQOS
Philippine Anti-Smoking Groups Urge DTI Action Over Alleged Vape Law Violations by ZYN and IQOS
Several anti-smoking and health advocacy groups in the Philippines urged the Department of Trade and Industry to take action against tobacco companies accused of violating the Vape Regulation Act of 2022. The groups said three consecutive complaints had been filed involving nicotine pouch brand ZYN and heated tobacco product company IQOS Philippines.
Apr.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Revised Tobacco Business Act to Take Effect in South Korea, Banning Online Sales of Liquid Vapes
Revised Tobacco Business Act to Take Effect in South Korea, Banning Online Sales of Liquid Vapes
South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare will implement a partial revision of the Tobacco Business Act on April 24. The scope will expand from products made with “tobacco leaves” to all products manufactured with natural or synthetic nicotine. Synthetic nicotine liquid e-cigarettes, which had previously been treated as industrial products and were freely sold and advertised online, will from April 24 be subject to the same regulations as ordinary tobacco products.
Apr.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Product | GEEKBAR MATE 60K Launches in U.S. Channels With 15ml E-Liquid and Up to 60,000 Puffs
Product | GEEKBAR MATE 60K Launches in U.S. Channels With 15ml E-Liquid and Up to 60,000 Puffs
E-cigarette brand GEEKBAR has recently launched its new product, the GEEKBAR MATE 60K, on its official website. The product adopts a pod-based system, consisting of a reusable 900mAh device and a pod prefilled with 15ml of e-liquid and equipped with a built-in 200mAh battery, bringing the total battery capacity to 1100mAh. It supports both Regular and Pulse modes.
Mar.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Philip Morris Korea Names Lee Hong-seok as New CEO Effective May 1
Philip Morris Korea Names Lee Hong-seok as New CEO Effective May 1
Philip Morris Korea said on April 29 that it has appointed Lee Hong-seok, head of its smoke-free products division, as its new chief executive officer, with his term beginning on May 1. Yoon Hee-kyung, who took office in 2023, will step down after about three years in the role.
Apr.30 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Reynolds Appeals ITC Defeat in Disposable Vape Section 337 Case to U.S. Federal Circuit
Reynolds Appeals ITC Defeat in Disposable Vape Section 337 Case to U.S. Federal Circuit
On March 13, 2026, R.J. Reynolds and related companies filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, seeking review of the U.S. International Trade Commission’s final ruling in the disposable vape Section 337 investigation.
Mar.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai