Teen left 'a few hours from death' after vaping habit 'triggered' bacterial infection that led to lethal sepsis
A 16-year-old who almost died of a life-threatening lung infection has warned youngsters to avoid vapes at all costs, after doctors said her 18-month habit triggered her disease.
Isabella Troncao, from Las Vegas, developed a bacterial infection in her throat last year, which quickly turned into deadly Lemierre’s syndrome — when a bug spreads to vital blood vessels.
It can swiftly end up in different parts of the body, including the jugular veins which connect the head and the heart.
In Ms Troncao's case, the condition eventually led to sepsis, leaving her 'hours from death' and requiring a month-long stay in hospital in which doctors removed a litre of fluid from her lung.
Now, the teenager has issued a stark warning to her peers, stating 'nobody should vape'.
'It's a strain on your lungs and it's making lots of people sick.
'I felt like it was a sign of God that I was meant to stay on this earth for a reason. It's crazy to think I would have missed it in that small time window.
'It definitely feels like I've been given a second chance at life.'
Isabella Troncao was told by doctors that her vaping habit had triggered a bacterial infection that eventually led to life-threatening sepsis
The harrowing tale comes as the popularity of disposable e-cigarettes in the UK appears to have plateaued.
The percentage of 16-24 year-olds who use disposable vapes has dropped by nearly half in the last year from 63 per cent to 35 per cent, according to University College London (UCL) research.
Meanwhile, the proportion of vapers stayed constant between January 2024 and January this year.
However, the scientists behind the research have warned that this doesn't mean vaping is being phased out.
They believe young users are switching to refillable and rechargeable vapes instead of giving up in preparation for the upcoming ban on disposable devices that are often marketed at young people.
Isabella first picked up the habit 18 months a go to 'impress' a potential romantic interest.
She began smoking legal marijuana vapes, before starting nicotine ones.
But within a week of switching, she began to feel unwell.
The teenager started her vaping habit as a way of impressing a crush.
'They would make my throat burn and I got sick within a week,' she said. 'It felt like there was a 50lb weight on the left side of my chest.
'I was in so much pain, it was like I wanted to breathe but I couldn't take a full breath in.'
Eventually, her condition spiralled. 'I couldn't get up to go to the bathroom and I couldn't stay awake. My mum and my brother tried to get me to the car [to take me to hospital] because I couldn't walk.'
The family knew there was something wrong when doctors at the hospital rushed her through for immediate assesment.
'They drew my blood and it didn't take long for them to tell my mum I was in septic shock,' she said. 'It had spread all over my body, which was shutting down.
'They told me that if I had come in a few hours later that day I would have died, I was definitely close to death so that's crazy to think about.'
Medics at the St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Nevada where she was treated told her the vaping had likely contributed to the bacteria build-up in her body, which had triggered the sepsis.
The medical team were forced to drain a litre of fluid from Isabella's lung, in order to save her life, she said.
She stayed in hospital for three months for monitoring on several blood clots as well as a litre of fluid on her lung.
Her mother said: 'The worst feeling was having someone say they don't know if she's going to make it, that was really hard.'
She remained in hospital for a month due to blood clots in her throat, lung and left arm.
Isabella's mum Francesca, 44, said she thought her daughter just had a sore throat at first, and wasn't aware she was vaping.
'I found the vape in her pocket and she was too scared to tell me where she got it from,' she said.
'She was dating a new boy and she was smoking with him, it's hard because I blame myself too.
'We all do stupid things but they're marketing these vapes with fruity flavours and fancy colours... they're worse than cigarettes.
'The worst feeling was having someone say they don't know if she's going to make it, that was really hard.'
Data published last year found that around 5.6million people in the UK are current vapers, while 2.2million use both electric and traditional cigarettes.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, currently working its way through Parliament, includes powers to potentially restrict the packaging, marketing and flavours of vapes.
