LAUSR

Aim: Electronic-cigarettes (e-cigarette) are not legally sold in Turkey. However, illegal internet websites market various products and social media forums facilitate the use. Fearing the implications, only few users apply to national health system regarding their health issues and choose to search for advice in social media. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of symptoms related to e-cigarette use reported in social media forums. Methods: The discussion topic “e-cigarettes and health” under the main e-cigarette social media forum, were screened for symptoms. The frequency and duration of the symptoms and advice given by forum members were recorded. Results: The e-cigarette forum had 40599 members, 74.8 % males, 43.9% between 20-40 years of age, 52.2 % still smoking classical cigarettes. The topic “e-cigarettes and health” was comprimised of 565 subjects and 20779 messages. 966 users complained about their health. Their symptoms started within the first 3 days and lasted up to 3 months. The location of most frequent symptoms were as follows: oral 33.6 %, throat 33.2 %, respiratory 30.2 %, gingival 28.3 %. Nasal and gingival bleeding, hemoptysis, breathlessness, cough, blurred vision, loss of taste, pain at the kidney lodge were the most striking symptoms. 13 members reported nicotine poisonning. The analysis of the section on treatment of symptoms showed that the majority of the responses were to sustain the use of electronic cigarettes with the recommendation of medicines and herbal products. Conclusion: The symptoms related with e-cigarette use starts acutely and involves multi organ systems. Social media forums give unauthorized medical treatment to the members who report symptoms.