Doctors issue stark message to anyone who shares vape on night out
The warning comes after an 18 year old was rushed to hospital and placed into a medically induced coma for four days
Doctors have issued a warning to vapers. If you're on a night out, there's a good chance you will come across someone with a vape.
And if someone offers you one to share, doctors have urged people to say no as it could be fatal. The clear message comes after a doctor told one mum to say her goodbyes to her teenage daughter, who caught a severe infection after a night out.
Experts have warned that sharing one can be "very risky" because it can help transfer infectious agents like norovirus, flu, the common cold, herpes simplex and meningococcal disease (bacterial meningitis), which can be life-threatening if not treated quickly. Doctor Hana Patel, a GP in the UK, warned: “I would not recommend sharing vapes as this can expose you to a number of diseases and viruses."
Dr Keni Ravish Rajiv, senior consultant, neurology and head of epilepsy service at Aster CMI Hospital in Bangalore, India, also stressed: “The pathogens responsible for [meningitis] can be present in saliva, which means that sharing items such as vapes or drinks could facilitate the transfer of these infectious agents.”
Sian Alderton's story, which was reported by the Mirror, revealed that she thought she'd caught an illness. However, after noticing red spots on her daughter's body, her mum, Kerrie Durrant, rushed her to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Within four hours of arriving at the hospital, the 18 year old was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. She was placed into a medically induced coma for four days.
Sian spent 14 days altogether in hospital, with her mum saying: “I want to make people aware doctors have to find a source or where the meningitis bacteria started from. During tests Sian showed symptoms of sinusitis meaning it could have possibly been contracted through saliva from such things as vaping, kissing or sharing drinks."
According to Royal Vapery, as well as not sharing a vape, you should also:
- Never buy counterfeit/“cheap” devices or liquids (fire risk, unknown contents)
- Never charge with random cables or leave charging unattended (overheating/battery venting).
- Never use damaged or loose batteries (shorts/explosions)
NHS meningitiswarning
The NHS describes meningitis as an infection of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord that “can be very serious if not treated quickly” and can cause life-threatening sepsis or permanent damage.
Symptoms of meningitis and sepsis include:
- a high temperature
- cold hands and feet
- vomiting
- confusion
- breathing quickly
- muscle and joint pain
- pale, mottled or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
- spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
- headache
- a stiff neck
- a dislike of bright lights
- being very sleepy or difficult to wake
- fits (seizures)