A 17-year-old visited the ER five times before cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome was diagnosed
A teenager sought emergency care five times over a year for uncontrolled vomiting and weight loss before CHS was recognized, highlighting how underdiagnosed this condition is in adolescents.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
A 17-year-old visited the emergency department five times over one year with uncontrolled nausea, profuse vomiting, and weight loss. The diagnosis of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) was not considered until after extensive and unnecessary medical workups.
The patient's symptoms improved with repetitive hot showering and resolved when cannabis use was stopped, both hallmark features of CHS. The authors noted that while cannabis use among Canadian youth was declining, it remained twice as prevalent as among adults, making adolescent CHS an underrecognized concern.
The case report emphasized that CHS should be included in the differential diagnosis for any case of cyclic vomiting, regardless of the patient's age. The condition is underdiagnosed in adults and even more so in adolescents, where clinicians may be less likely to inquire about substance use.
Key Numbers
One patient, age 17. Five emergency department visits over one year. Canadian youth cannabis use was declining since 2008 but remained twice the adult rate.
How They Did This
Single case report of a 17-year-old with cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, including review of clinical presentation, diagnostic considerations, and treatment approaches for CHS in the adolescent population.
Why This Research Matters
Five emergency visits before diagnosis means significant suffering, unnecessary testing, and healthcare costs. Increased awareness of CHS in adolescent patients could dramatically reduce time to diagnosis and improve care.
The Bigger Picture
CHS was first described in adults, and awareness in adolescent medicine has lagged behind. As cannabis remains widely used by teenagers, clinicians who treat young people need to add CHS to their diagnostic considerations for unexplained cyclic vomiting.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case report cannot establish prevalence or risk factors. Canadian healthcare context may differ from other systems. The case does not provide information about what level of use triggers CHS in adolescents.
Questions This Raises
- ?How common is CHS in adolescents compared to adults?
- ?Are teenagers more or less susceptible to CHS than adult chronic users?
- ?What is the minimum frequency and duration of cannabis use that puts adolescents at risk?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 5 ER visits before CHS was diagnosed in a 17-year-old
- Evidence Grade:
- Single case report. Illustrative of diagnostic delays but cannot establish broader patterns.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2015. Adolescent CHS awareness has improved since.
- Original Title:
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in a 17-Year-Old Adolescent.
- Published In:
- The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 57(5), 565-7 (2015)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00945
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can teenagers get cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
Yes. This case describes a 17-year-old who had five emergency visits before CHS was diagnosed. While CHS is more commonly recognized in adults, adolescents who use cannabis chronically can develop the same condition.
Why does CHS take so long to diagnose?
Cannabis is widely known as an antiemetic (anti-nausea drug), so clinicians often do not consider it as a cause of vomiting. In adolescents, doctors may be even less likely to inquire about cannabis use or consider CHS in their differential diagnosis.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- cannabis-dependence-physical-psychological-addiction-science
- cannabis-perception-vs-evidence-gap
- cannabis-use-disorder-test
- cross-addiction-quit-weed-start-drinking
- is-weed-addictive
- is-weed-addictive-science
- quitting-weed-and-alcohol
- rehab-for-weed-addiction-necessary
- signs-of-cannabis-use-disorder
- weed-vape-pen-addiction
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00945APA
Desjardins, Noémie; Jamoulle, Olivier; Taddeo, Danielle; Stheneur, Chantal. (2015). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in a 17-Year-Old Adolescent.. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 57(5), 565-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.07.019
MLA
Desjardins, Noémie, et al. "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in a 17-Year-Old Adolescent.." The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.07.019
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in a 17-Year-Old Adolescent..." RTHC-00945. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/desjardins-2015-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-syndrome-in
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.