Hannah Roth, a 30-year-old mother from Newport, Tennessee, reported that vaping led to a severe respiratory infection, causing her lungs to deteriorate to the condition of an 80-year-old's. Roth began vaping daily during the COVID-19 pandemic due to lockdown stress and says she was soon using her device every hour.
Last month, Roth noticed a 'popping' sound when she inhaled, followed by a fever of 104°F (40°C). Medical examinations eventually diagnosed her with pneumonia, which doctors attributed to vaping. They explained that the inhalation of oily substances found in e-liquids can trigger an inflammatory response, leading to pneumonia. Scans of Roth's lungs revealed severe damage resembling that of someone who had smoked heavily for a long period.
Initial misdiagnosis treated her condition as the flu but further tests confirmed pneumonia in her right lung. Following the diagnosis, Roth quit vaping immediately to care for her two children and began sharing her experience to highlight the potential risks associated with vaping.