A 16-Year-Old's Recurrent Vomiting Turned Out to Be Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
A 16-year-old with two years of unexplained recurrent vomiting episodes was finally diagnosed with cannabis hyperemesis syndrome after extensive testing, highlighting the need to consider CHS in adolescents.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
A 16.5-year-old male presented with a 2-year history of vomiting episodes lasting up to 10 days, with abdominal pain and weight loss. After extensive workup ruled out other causes, CHS was diagnosed based on the temporal relationship between cannabis use and symptom onset. Symptoms resolved with supportive care and cannabis cessation.
Key Numbers
16.5-year-old male. 2-year symptom history. Vomiting episodes lasting up to 10 days. Symptoms resolved after cannabis cessation.
How They Did This
Single case report with clinical documentation of diagnostic workup, temporal relationship between cannabis use and symptoms, and treatment response.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome is increasingly recognized in adults but may be underdiagnosed in adolescents, leading to unnecessary testing and prolonged suffering. Given increasing cannabis use and potency among youth, pediatric providers need to consider CHS.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis potency increases and youth access expands, CHS may become more common in adolescent populations. Current clinical guidelines may need specific pediatric diagnostic criteria for CHS.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single case report. Diagnosis based on temporal association and exclusion. No biomarkers for CHS exist.
Questions This Raises
- ?How common is CHS in adolescents?
- ?Should CHS screening be standard for adolescents with unexplained recurrent vomiting?
- ?Are pediatric-specific diagnostic criteria needed?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 2 years of symptoms before CHS diagnosis
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: single case report, useful for clinical awareness but cannot establish patterns or prevalence.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2025.
- Original Title:
- Recognizing Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome in Pediatric Patients: Insights From a Case Report.
- Published In:
- Cureus, 17(3), e79904 (2025)
- Authors:
- Rucinski, Pawel, Akutko, Katarzyna, Pytrus, Tomasz
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07528
Evidence Hierarchy
Describes what happened to one person or a small group.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can teenagers get cannabis hyperemesis syndrome?
Yes. This case report describes a 16-year-old who suffered two years of recurrent vomiting episodes before CHS was diagnosed. Symptoms resolved after stopping cannabis use.
How is cannabis hyperemesis syndrome diagnosed?
CHS is diagnosed by exclusion after ruling out other causes, combined with a temporal relationship to chronic cannabis use. Symptoms resolve with cannabis cessation.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07528APA
Rucinski, Pawel; Akutko, Katarzyna; Pytrus, Tomasz. (2025). Recognizing Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome in Pediatric Patients: Insights From a Case Report.. Cureus, 17(3), e79904. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79904
MLA
Rucinski, Pawel, et al. "Recognizing Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome in Pediatric Patients: Insights From a Case Report.." Cureus, 2025. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79904
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Recognizing Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome in Pediatric Patie..." RTHC-07528. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/rucinski-2025-recognizing-cannabis-hyperemesis-syndrome
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.