Electronic cigarettes: "wolves in sheep's clothing".

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Medicine
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) use is rising globally among youth.
• Factors contributing to ENDS uptake include customizable use, flavors, and perceived safety compared to traditional cigarettes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present current evidence on the health impacts and risks of ENDS use in children and adolescents.
• To highlight the latest scientific findings on ENDS-related health consequences.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search on PubMed using keywords related to ENDS, adolescents, risks, and acute lung injury.
• Review of titles and abstracts to identify and analyze relevant recent studies.

Main Results:

• ENDS use is increasing, with significant health consequences including E-cigarette or Vaping-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), asthma, and adverse effects on neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and immunological systems.
• High nicotine content in ENDS leads to addiction in young users.
• Commercialization of ENDS is prohibited in Brazil, with prevention and behavioral counseling identified as key interventions.

Conclusions:

• Scientific evidence confirms that ENDS present clear physical and mental health risks for children and adolescents.
• Interventions should focus on prevention and behavioral support to mitigate ENDS use among youth.