The findings of the study were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the flagship journal of the American Thoracic Society.
"This is the first study that demonstrates how chronic exposure to e-cigarettes increases the gut's susceptibility to bacterial infections, leading to chronic inflammation and other health concerns," said the researcher
The researchers also found that when parents set strong household rules about not using tobacco -- applying to all residents -- their children were less likely to start tobacco use.