Leading children’s doctors have warned vaping could lead to several health harms after a new review linked it to higher rates of breathing problems in children and young people.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said concerns about vape use among children and young people “continue to grow”.

In the new review, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, experts from the college examined all 81 published studies involving health or social outcomes of vaping on children and young people.

The authors found that vaping was linked to multiple health harms, including respiratory problems such as wheezing and coughing; allergies; sleep issues; eye symptoms including itching, dryness and blurriness; mental health problems including anxiety, depression and panic disorder; and adverse effects on oral and dental health, such as inflammation, ulcers and dry mouth.

Researchers also found evidence of harm in babies whose mothers vaped while pregnant, including “more abnormal reflexes”; “lower motor maturity”; poorer self-regulation and higher risks of low weight gain.

The long-term research also showed a link between vaping in childhood and cigarette smoking, the authors added.

“This comprehensive review highlights the emerging risks of vaping and e-cigarette use on CYP (children and young people),” the authors wrote.

“There is strong evidence from longitudinal studies that vaping predicts and increases the risk of subsequent cigarette initiation among young people who have never smoked.

“There is consistent evidence from cross-sectional studies that young people who vape report higher rates of cough, wheeze and other respiratory symptoms than non-vapers.

“There is evidence emerging for a wider range of likely health harms impacting specifically on CYP, including mental health, oral and dental health, allergies, sleep, eye symptoms and adverse perinatal outcomes for babies exposed to nicotine during gestation.”

Co-author of the systematic review, Professor Will Carroll, said: “Vaping should not be seen as a harmless part of growing up.

“The evidence shows clear links with respiratory symptoms, nicotine dependence and subsequent cigarette smoking, while concerns about wider impacts on young people’s health continue to grow. We must act to make vaping less attractive and accessible to children.”

RCPCH vice-president for policy, Dr Mike McKean, added: “Vaping is still a relatively new product, and there is much we do not yet know about its long-term impact on children and young people but a clear and concerning picture is emerging.

“The Tobacco and Vapes Act is an important step towards protecting children from nicotine addiction, but it must not be seen as a one-and-done solution.

“We need to keep pace with a rapidly evolving market and continue to take action to protect children from nicotine products that are deliberately made and marketed to appeal to them.”

In July, the government announced a raft of measures to “crack down on vapes targeting kids” including plain packaging; plain devices; restrictions on flavour descriptions; and keeping vapes out of sight in shops.

Prof Carroll added: “The recently announced measures are welcome and must be implemented quickly.

“But if vaping is to remain a viable smoking cessation tool without attracting new users, the government must go further.

“Current proposals will place restrictions on vape flavour names and packaging descriptions, moving away from enticing names inspired by sweets, desserts, and alcohol in favour of simple, factual names like ‘apple’.

“As paediatricians, we call on the Government to go further and limit the types of flavours available, as opposed to just their descriptions.”

England’s chief medical officer, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, has said in the past that marketing vapes to children is “utterly unacceptable”.

Figures suggest that almost one in five (19 per cent) 11 to 17-year-olds in Britain have tried vaping, according to a poll conducted on behalf of the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash).

Ash chief executive Hazel Cheeseman said: “The evidence remains clear that vaping is less harmful than smoking but is not risk-free.

“The government must use the powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Act to swiftly bring forward regulations to restrict the promotion of vapes to children while ensuring that adults who smoke can easily access vapes as a quit aid.

“As it was with tobacco, strong controls on marketing and promotion will be key to reducing youth vaping.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Children should never vape and this evidence shows just some of the risks associated.

“We have already banned single-use vapes and have legislated to ban advertising and sponsorship from next year too.

“We’re also consulting on proposals to crack down on packaging that appeals to children.

“Through the Tobacco and Vapes Act, this Government will protect children and young people from the potential harms of vaping, smoking and risks of nicotine addiction and create the UK’s first ever smoke-free generation.”