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Terrifying vape warning as super-fit 17-year-old gets killer ‘popcorn lung’: ‘Kids are dying’, doctors say

A terrified mother has warned of the dangers of e-cigarettes after her daughter developed a deadly, life-long lung condition linked to vaping.

Brianne Cullen, 17, began using disposable vapes ‘in secret’ aged 14 to ‘ease anxiety’ triggered by the return to school post Covid lockdown.

But one afternoon four months a go, the keen cheerleader from Nevada, the US, called home out of panic – she was struggling to breathe.

Her mother, Christie Martin, rushed Brianne to a local emergency department where tests revealed she was suffering devastating bronchiolitis obliterans – better known as ‘popcorn lung’.

The condition is a rare type of lung disease, triggered by inflammation in bronchioles — the smallest airways in the lungs — which become scarred.

Steroids and an inhaler can reduce inflammation and help with breathing, but in severe cases, a lung transplant may be required.

Sufferers require life-long care to manage their symptoms and are advised to avoid air pollution, cigarette smoke and people who are unwell, who could pass on infections.

Recalling the ordeal, the estate agent said: ‘She called me all of a sudden and said she couldn’t catch her breath.

 

‘She kept saying “I can’t breathe”, it was the scariest thing.’

Once they arrived at the hospital, and multiple scans were performed, the doctor told the pair the results had triggered a ‘very serious’ conversation.

‘I didn’t expect the news she gave me, that it was popcorn lungs that’s permanent and children are dying from it,’ she said.

‘They told me she should be able to make a full recovery because we caught it so early, but it can also cause problems like cancer in the future.

‘Smoking takes years to show its effect and your lungs can heal from it, but popcorn lung is irreversible.’

Doctors gave Brianne – who puffed on a $25 (£19) disposable vape daily for three years – an inhaler to help with her breathing.

But other than stopping vaping, there is little else medics can do.

‘We don’t know the status of her lungs now,’ said Ms Martin. ‘We still don’t know if there will be long term effects.’

 

 

Scientists have suggested there may be a possible link between ‘popcorn lung’ and a chemical found in some vapes called diacetyl. However, further research is required.

Some liquids in e-cigarettes used to contain diacetyl, but in the UK the chemical was banned in e-cigarette liquids under the EU Tobacco Products Directive in 2016.

The ingredient can still be found in e-cigarettes sold in the US.

As well toxic chemicals, infections and autoimmune diseases can also cause popcorn lung. It is unclear how many people suffer from the rare condition affects.

Tell-tale signs include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, tiredness, fever, night sweats and a rash.

It was named after a group of popcorn factory workers in Missouri developed the condition after breathing in vapour from the butter flavouring added to the popcorn, which contained diacetyl.

Cancer Research UK says there have been no confirmed cases of popcorn lung reported in people who use e-cigarette, however.

Despite this, public health experts have become increasingly concerned that youngsters who have never smoked are using electronic cigarettes, or vapes.