A 22-year-old Indonesian woman has been left unable to eat or drink after developing a severe herpes-like condition linked to vaping.
The young woman, who had been vaping for about a year, sought medical help for painful, crusty ulcers on her lips, gums, and tongue.
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Initially suspected to be herpes, her tests came back negative. Upon further questioning, doctors learned she had started using e-cigarettes roughly a year before her symptoms appeared.
She was diagnosed with oral erythema multiforme, a rare skin condition similar to an allergic reaction, likely triggered by vaping.
The case was documented last month in the International Medical Case Reports Journal. Academics noted that substances in e-cigarettes, such as propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, flavourings, or other toxins, can occasionally trigger this condition.
Erythema multiforme typically results from bacterial or fungal infections and annually affects around 200,000 people in the US. Symptoms include pink and red lesions on the skin and mouth, joint pain, fever, and itching. It rarely confines itself to the mouth and can require hospitalization in severe cases.
The woman visited doctors at the University of Indonesia’s Department of Oral Medicine, complaining of mouth sores and pain.
Examination revealed crusty sores on her inner cheeks, tongue, mouth roof, floor, and lips. Not a cigarette smoker, she admitted to vaping out of curiosity, using e-cigarettes several times a day for about a year.
Her condition was classified as a mild form of erythema multiforme. Doctors prescribed a steroid mouthwash and a moisturizing solution for her lips, advising her to stop vaping. Within a week, she showed significant improvement.
Initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, vaping has faced criticism for targeting young people with colourful packaging and fruity flavours and for the lack of long-term health data.
Vaping has been linked to several health issues, including mouth and throat irritation, eye irritation, shortness of breath, fatigue, and lung cancer.
This case highlights the potential severe health risks associated with vaping and underscores the need for further research and regulation in the industry.
