ZOAHARIAN.COM - Vaping or the use of electronic cigarettes can pose various health risks for children and adolescents. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is calling on the UK government to take stronger steps to make vaping products less attractive and more difficult to access for this age group.

RCPCH reviewed approximately 81 studies on the health and social impacts of vaping on children and adolescents. The review, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, found a link between vaping and a number of health problems, especially respiratory disorders.

According to researchers, vape use is associated with symptoms such as wheezing, as well as oral and dental health problems, lack of sleep, mental health disorders, and eye symptoms. The review also found evidence of risks to babies when mothers use e-cigarettes during pregnancy.

One of the review authors, Prof Will Carroll, said there was a clear link between vaping and respiratory symptoms, nicotine dependence and the likelihood of engaging in smoking.

"We must act to make vaping less appealing and accessible to kids," Carroll said.

RCPCH vice president for policy, Dr Mike McKean, said the long-term impact of vaping on children and young people was still not fully known. However, he says, increasing evidence shows cause for concern.

"Vaping is still a relatively new product, and there is still a lot we don't know about its long-term impacts on children and teens. However, a clear and concerning picture is starting to emerge," he said.

In July, the British government launched a 12-week consultation on the appearance, packaging and way vapes are displayed in shops. One goal is to reduce the product's appeal to children.

In the proposal, vape packaging will be made simpler with strict restrictions on brands. Flavor names will also use simple descriptions, such as "apple" or "cola." The government also proposed that vapes should not be displayed openly in shops, like cigarettes and tobacco products.

The move is part of the implementation of the Tobacco and Vape Act which aims to create the UK's first smoke-free generation. Under the new rules, the sale of cigarettes to people born after January 1 2009 will be prohibited.

Dr McKean welcomed the policy as an important step to protect children from nicotine addiction. However, he emphasized that these restrictions should not be considered the only solution.

RCPCH asks the government to continue strengthening policies to reduce the appeal and access of vaping for children, including considering limiting the number and types of flavors available.

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