Children who vape are more likely to experience breathing problems, poor mental health, and other health issues, according to a significant review of existing research. Experts have cautioned that vaping acts as a "gateway" to tobacco smoking and should not be considered an innocuous part of adolescence.
Doctors from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) analyzed 81 published studies on youth vaping. Their findings, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, associate vaping with respiratory problems such as wheezing and coughing, as well as anxiety, depression, and panic disorders.
The review also identified links between vaping and sleep disturbances, eye conditions, and oral health problems including inflammation, ulcers, and dry mouth. Evidence suggests potential harm to infants whose mothers vaped during pregnancy, with observed effects including abnormal reflexes, lower motor maturity, poorer self-regulation, and increased risk of low weight gain.
"There is strong evidence... that vaping predicts and increases the risk of subsequent cigarette initiation among young people who have never smoked," the authors wrote. "There is consistent evidence... that young people who vape report higher rates of cough, wheeze and other respiratory symptoms than non-vapers."
The RCPCH analysis further indicated emerging evidence of wider health harms for children and young people, encompassing mental health, oral and dental health, allergies, sleep, eye symptoms, and adverse perinatal outcomes for babies exposed to nicotine in utero.
These findings emerge as the number of people who vape in Britain has surpassed the number of cigarette smokers for the first time, with 5.5 million vapers compared to 4.9 million smokers. In response, the UK government announced plans in July for plain packaging and to replace enticing flavor names on vaping products with simple descriptions.
Professor Will Carroll, a co-author of the review, stated, "Vaping should not be seen as a harmless part of growing up." He urged the government to implement stricter measures, such as limiting available flavor types rather than just their descriptions.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care affirmed, "Children should never vape." The department highlighted existing bans on single-use vapes and upcoming legislation to prohibit advertising and sponsorship.
Some 5.5 million people are estimated to vape in the UK, including nearly one million individuals aged 11 to 17. Experts suggest that colorful packaging and sweet flavors have been instrumental in attracting young users to vaping products.