Key facts
- Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), colloquially known as 'scromiting,' is a condition characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in chronic marijuana users.
- Young patients, including adolescents, are increasingly presenting to emergency rooms with these symptoms.
- A common self-treatment for CHS is the use of extremely hot showers or baths, though the reason for this relief is not fully understood.
- The condition can lead to severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and potentially life-threatening complications if not managed.
- Studies suggest a correlation between the liberalization of marijuana laws and an increase in CHS cases.
- The rising potency of THC in cannabis products is considered a potential factor contributing to the syndrome's prevalence.
Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a condition marked by severe nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in chronic marijuana users, is on the rise, particularly among young patients. Social media has dubbed the syndrome 'scromiting' due to the combination of screaming and vomiting experienced by sufferers. These individuals often present to emergency rooms with intense intestinal distress, writhing in pain and unable to stop vomiting for hours.
Immediate treatment typically involves anti-nausea medications and intravenous fluids to combat dehydration. However, patients also undergo extensive testing to rule out other potential causes of their symptoms. For some adolescents, these emergency room visits can become recurrent, occurring multiple times within short periods.
CHS was first identified in 2004 by Australian researchers who observed that symptoms subsided when cannabis use ceased but returned upon resumption. A peculiar characteristic of the syndrome is the tendency for patients to seek relief through extremely hot showers or baths, a practice that remains medically unexplained.
One theory suggests that the intense heat sensation may interrupt the pain cycle, while another points to the paradoxical effects of THC, the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana, which can both alleviate and induce nausea and vomiting depending on dosage and individual factors. The increasing potency of THC in contemporary cannabis products is considered a significant contributing factor to the rise in CHS cases.
In states like Colorado, which pioneered cannabis legalization, emergency departments have reported a substantial increase in CHS presentations. Studies have indicated a near doubling of such cases following the liberalization of medical marijuana laws, with further increases observed after recreational sales began. This trend is mirrored by a significant rise in overall cannabis sales in the state.