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 DTI Says Flavored Vape Products With Minor-Appealing Descriptors Are “100 Percent Smuggled”
Philippine DTI Says Flavored Vape Products With Minor-Appealing Descriptors Are “100 Percent Smuggled”
A Philippine Department of Trade and Industry official told a Senate hearing on vaping regulations that flavored vape products marketed with descriptors attractive to minors are “100 percent smuggled” and did not pass the agency’s licensing process.
Mar.16 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Latvian Parliament Gives Initial Support to E-Cigarette Deposit Scheme Amendments
Latvian Parliament Gives Initial Support to E-Cigarette Deposit Scheme Amendments
On April 1, Latvia’s parliament gave conceptual support to amendments to the Waste Management Law that would introduce a deposit system for e-cigarettes in order to reduce pollution and environmental harm caused by these products.
Apr.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
STG UK refreshes XQS nicotine pouch packaging: new flavour indicators, hitting retail from March
STG UK refreshes XQS nicotine pouch packaging: new flavour indicators, hitting retail from March
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK (STG UK) has announced a rebrand across its XQS nicotine pouch range. The updated packaging will be visible at retail from March, with the recommended retail price remaining £5.50. The new packs feature a bolder logo and glossy textures, retain nicotine strength indicators, and add a side flavour profile indicator to show the flavour type.
Feb.28 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Exclusive | China Starts Mandatory National Standards Process for Heated Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
Exclusive | China Starts Mandatory National Standards Process for Heated Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
China has launched mandatory national standards work for heated cigarettes and nicotine pouches, further formalizing regulation of both categories. The move may help lay groundwork for future market entry, but does not signal imminent domestic commercialization.
Apr.15
Special Report | China’s New Five-Year Plan Highlights “Health-First” Strategy, Providing Policy Context for Tobacco Sector
Special Report | China’s New Five-Year Plan Highlights “Health-First” Strategy, Providing Policy Context for Tobacco Sector
China’s 2026 “Two Sessions” reviewed the draft Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which proposes implementing a health-first development strategy and strengthening the effectiveness of the Patriotic Health Campaign. Although the document does not address specific industries, this public-health governance framework provides a new policy context for observing the future regulation, product strategies, and market development of China’s tobacco and next-generation nicotine sectors.
Industry Insight
Mar.08
Shanghai releases 2025 smoke-free white paper: smoking incidence at designated smoke-free venues falls to 12.6%
Shanghai releases 2025 smoke-free white paper: smoking incidence at designated smoke-free venues falls to 12.6%
Shanghai released its 2025 White Paper on Smoking Control in Public Places at a city tobacco control meeting on March 5. The paper reports a 12.6% smoking incidence in legally designated smoke-free venues, down 0.4 percentage points from 2024, and says 98.2% of residents support a full indoor smoking ban.
Mar.05