Vaping / E-cigarette-associated respiratory illnesses are being reported in hospitals throughout the US. Below are answers to some of the most common questions healthcare professionals are asking about these serious lung diseases associated with e-cigarette use. You can click/tap on a question to hear the answer.


How do I diagnose an e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness?
How to diagnose vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

What are the presenting signs and symptoms?
Describing the signs and symptoms of vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

Should I consider this diagnosis even if my patient doesn’t vape THC?
Description of THC vs. nicotine cartridges in vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

What are the most common abnormalities on chest imaging?
Most common chest radiograph (CXR and chest CT) abnormalities in vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

What types of pulmonary diseases should I consider in these patients?
Description of types of lung/pulmonary diseases in vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

What is lipoid pneumonia and how do I diagnose it?
Description of lipoid pneumonia in vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

What are DAD and DAH and how do I diagnose them?
Description of DAD/ARDS and DAH in vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

What are Eosinophilic Pneumonia and Organizing Pneumonia?
Description of Eosinophilic Pneumonia and Organizing Pneumonia in vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

How should I process pulmonary specimens to optimize diagnostic yield?
How to process pulmonary specimens (BAL/tissue samples) when suspecting vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

How do I treat my patient with an e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness?
How to treat vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness (for healthcare professionals). Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

Where do I report my cases of e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness?
Reporting cases of vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness to the state health department and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.

How should I follow these patients after discharge from the hospital?
Follow up recommendations for patients who recover from vaping/e-cigarette-associated respiratory illness for healthcare professionals. Sandra G. Adams, MD, MS, is a Professor of Medicine at the UT Health in San Antonio, TX and a Staff Physician at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System in San Antonio, TX and is the Founder and President of the not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) WipeDiseases Foundation.
