Innovative Journal Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences 2589-9031 4 4 2021 4 8 A A Problem To Be Solved: Vaping and EVALI in Coronavirus Days Problem To Be Solved: Vaping and EVALI in Coronavirus Days 1 Ali Kemal ERENLER, MD Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine Hitit University, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Çorum, Turkey Seval KOMUT, MD Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine Hitit University, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Çorum, Turkey Ahmet BAYDIN, MD Professor in Emergency Medicine Samsun Ondokuzmayıs University, School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Samsun, Turkey Journal Article https://doi.org/10.15520/jmrhs.v4i4.338 Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. The disease has a high infectivity and the most common symptoms are related to respiratory system. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), considered by many as an alternative for cigarette smoking, rapidly gained popularity in recent years. Despite a legal age requirement of 18 years for purchasing e-cigarettes, use of vaping products has been increasing particularly among younger people. These products are known to cause a special type of disease called “e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury” (EVALI) which may be highly fatal. Diagnostic criteria for EVALI consists of a mixture of non-specific systemic symptoms (eg, fever, chills, and vomiting) and respiratory symptoms (eg, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, dispnea, and hypoxia), along with detection of lung opacities and ground-glass opacities (GGOs) on imaging. Commonly, findings of EVALI reveal similarities with those of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the literature, there are numerous studies indicating e-cigarette users (vapers) have impaired immune response that might increase vulnerability to COVID-19 infection and death. However, studies claiming that smoking has protective effects against COVID-19 still exist in the literature. In this narrative review, we aimed to clarify confusions on effects of vaping on COVID-19 patients and prevent misdiagnoses of EVALI due to similarities of these diseases in many aspects. Erenler, A. 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