A pediatric case series shows cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is underdiagnosed in adolescents
A large single-institution case series documented cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) in pediatric patients, highlighting that the condition remains underdiagnosed and leads to unnecessary testing, increased healthcare use, and mental health burden in adolescents.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
CHS, a recurring vomiting disorder triggered by long-term frequent cannabis use, is being identified in pediatric patients but remains underdiagnosed. The condition leads to unnecessary diagnostic evaluations and increased healthcare utilization among adolescents.
Key Numbers
The abstract describes this as a "large case series" in pediatrics with data on treatment efficacy, healthcare utilization, and comorbidities (full numbers in the paper)
How They Did This
Single-institution case series of pediatric CHS patients, including data on treatment efficacy, healthcare utilization, and comorbidities.
Why This Research Matters
As cannabis use among teens becomes more common, pediatric CHS is likely to increase. Recognizing the syndrome early can prevent expensive and invasive diagnostic workups and connect patients with appropriate treatment.
The Bigger Picture
CHS awareness has grown among adult emergency medicine, but pediatric recognition lags behind. As cannabis potency and youth access increase, pediatric emergency departments will likely see more cases.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single institution limits generalizability. Case series design provides no comparison group. Abstract provides limited quantitative detail. Selection bias possible in case identification.
Questions This Raises
- ?What is the typical delay between symptom onset and CHS diagnosis in adolescents?
- ?Which treatments are most effective in pediatric CHS?
- ?Do adolescent CHS patients reduce or stop cannabis use after diagnosis?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- CHS remains underdiagnosed in adolescents despite being a large case series
- Evidence Grade:
- Preliminary: case series from a single institution without a control group. Provides clinical observations but cannot establish prevalence or treatment efficacy.
- Study Age:
- 2026 publication from a single pediatric institution.
- Original Title:
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Adolescents: A Single Institution Case Series.
- Published In:
- Pediatric emergency care (2026)
- Authors:
- Vega Castellvi, Claudia, Jennings, Natalie F, Clemente Fabrega, Melissa, Gamboa, Heidi, Li, B U K
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08685
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 of recurrent severe nausea and vomiting triggered by frequent, long-term cannabis use. It often involves compulsive hot bathing for symptom relief and resolves with cannabis cessation.
Can teens get CHS?
Yes. This case series documented multiple adolescent cases. The condition is likely underdiagnosed in teens because clinicians may not consider cannabis use or may not recognize the symptom pattern.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08685APA
Vega Castellvi, Claudia; Jennings, Natalie F; Clemente Fabrega, Melissa; Gamboa, Heidi; Li, B U K. (2026). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Adolescents: A Single Institution Case Series.. Pediatric emergency care. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000003577
MLA
Vega Castellvi, Claudia, et al. "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Adolescents: A Single Institution Case Series.." Pediatric emergency care, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1097/PEC.0000000000003577
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome in Adolescents: A Single In..." RTHC-08685. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/vega-2026-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.