First reported cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome in teenagers
Two pediatric patients with chronic marijuana use developed severe nausea and vomiting that resolved only when they stopped using cannabis, marking the first reported cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis in adolescents.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Two adolescent patients presented with severe nausea and uncontrollable vomiting (hyperemesis) in the setting of chronic marijuana use. Both underwent extensive gastrointestinal workups that failed to identify any other cause.
In both cases, symptoms resolved when the patients stopped using marijuana. Both patients also displayed compulsive bathing behavior, a hallmark feature of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) that had been consistently reported in adult cases.
These represented the first documented cases of CHS in pediatric patients, as the syndrome had previously been described only in adults.
Key Numbers
2 pediatric patients. Both had extensive GI workups with no identified cause. Both exhibited compulsive bathing. Both improved with cannabis cessation.
How They Did This
Case report of two pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department with severe cyclic vomiting and chronic marijuana use histories. Both received extensive gastrointestinal evaluations. Symptom resolution was documented after cannabis cessation.
Why This Research Matters
This report expanded recognition of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome to include adolescent patients, suggesting clinicians should consider CHS in younger patients with unexplained cyclic vomiting and marijuana use history.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis use among adolescents increased, recognizing CHS in this age group became important for avoiding unnecessary testing and delayed diagnosis.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Case reports cannot establish causation and represent only two patients. The mechanism of CHS remained poorly understood at the time.
Questions This Raises
- ?How common is CHS among adolescent cannabis users?
- ?Are there risk factors that make some young users more susceptible than others?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- First pediatric cases of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome reported
- Evidence Grade:
- Case report of two patients. Useful for identifying new clinical presentations but cannot establish prevalence or causation.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2010. CHS has since been widely recognized in both adult and pediatric populations.
- Original Title:
- Pediatric cannabinoid hyperemesis: two cases.
- Published In:
- Pediatric emergency care, 26(12), 919-20 (2010)
- Authors:
- Miller, Joseph B, Walsh, Mark(2), Patel, Pankaj A, Rogan, Michael, Arnold, Cliff, Maloney, Megan, Donnino, Michael
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00435
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome?
CHS is a condition characterized by severe cyclic nausea and vomiting in people who use cannabis heavily over long periods. Symptoms typically resolve when cannabis use stops.
Why did these patients take compulsive baths?
Compulsive hot bathing is a distinctive feature of CHS. Patients report that hot showers or baths temporarily relieve their nausea, though the mechanism is not fully understood.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00435APA
Miller, Joseph B; Walsh, Mark; Patel, Pankaj A; Rogan, Michael; Arnold, Cliff; Maloney, Megan; Donnino, Michael. (2010). Pediatric cannabinoid hyperemesis: two cases.. Pediatric emergency care, 26(12), 919-20. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0b013e3181fe9189
MLA
Miller, Joseph B, et al. "Pediatric cannabinoid hyperemesis: two cases.." Pediatric emergency care, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0b013e3181fe9189
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Pediatric cannabinoid hyperemesis: two cases." RTHC-00435. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/miller-2010-pediatric-cannabinoid-hyperemesis-two
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.