Baguio official warns risks of vaping amid rising TB cases

Baguio City, Philippines - A health expert in Baguio City has warned the public against vape use amidst the rising cases of Tuberculosis (TB) in the city.

TB is an infectious disease that mostly affects the lungs and any part of the body. It can lead to death if not immediately attended to.

The disease, in fact, was cited by the World Health Organization in 2021 as the “13th leading cause of death and the second leading infectious killer after COVID-19 (above HIV and AIDS)”. This is after 1.6 million individuals died of TB in said year.

In Baguio City, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) revealed there are 65 cases of TB in the city as of August 2023. This is higher compared to the 58 cases in 2022, the Philippine Information Agency - Baguio reported last Tuesday, August 22.

With these cases, Dr. Beverly Anne Dominguez, BGHMC Tuberculosis Coordinator, cautioned the public especially those who are using vape as this is a ‘risk factor’ in getting the disease. She explained that vaping, like smoking, weakens the immune system of a person.

Vaping is an alternative way to smoke for people who don’t want to use tobacco products. Despite having no nicotine, its e-liquids contain many toxic chemicals that are dangerous to one’s health.

Not just for smokers, e-cigarettes also have harmful effects on ‘second-hand smokers’, especially babies, children, and the sick.

Apart from TB, vaping may also lead to other diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.

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