WHO Gives Global Recognition to Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome as ER Visits Surge
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially added Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) to its disease classification a move that could improve diagnosis, tracking and treatment of a dangerous vomiting disorder tied to chronic cannabis use.
WHO adds a new diagnostic code for Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) as emergency room cases linked to chronic cannabis use surge. Researchers warn the syndrome known for severe nausea, vomiting and the disturbing “scromiting” remains under-recognized despite growing incidence.
WHO Formalizes CHS: A Breakthrough in Recognition
The World Health Organization (WHO) officially added Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) to its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) manual giving the disorder its own dedicated diagnostic code (R11.16), instead of being grouped under nonspecific vomiting or gastrointestinal codes.
This shift marks a milestone in medical recognition, allowing doctors to formally diagnose, code, and track CHS. For decades, many patients suffering from repeated bouts of severe vomiting and nausea had been misdiagnosed or labeled with vague gastrointestinal disorders.
With the new code now adopted by major health systems such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the U.S., physicians nationwide can more consistently document cases paving the way for better data collection, research, and ultimately, improved patient care.
What Is CHS And Why It’s Dangerous
CHS is a serious condition that can develop in individuals who use cannabis (marijuana) chronically often weekly, daily, or multiple times per week over many years. Patients typically experience cycles of intense nausea, repeated vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, weight loss, and in severe cases, complications like kidney damage, electrolyte disturbances, or even death.
A particularly distressing and widely reported symptom is “scromiting” a painful blend of screaming and vomiting, usually during extreme bouts of illness.
Though cannabis is often known for its anti-nausea effects, in CHS long-term overstimulation of the body’s endocannabinoid system may paradoxically trigger severe vomiting the exact mechanism remains unclear.
Surge in ER Cases Since Pandemic: Why CHS Is On The Rise
Healthcare providers across emergency departments have noted a sharp increase in CHS cases especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some studies suggest that rising stress, social isolation, and greater access to high-potency cannabis products (many now exceeding 20% THC, compared to ~5% decades ago) may be contributing factors.
The lack of a specific diagnostic code until now meant many cases were under-reported or misdiagnosed as generic vomiting or stomach illness. With the new WHO code, experts expect a more accurate picture of CHS prevalence to emerge potentially revealing it to be more common than previously thought
Treatment, Prognosis and Challenges
- Best cure: Discontinue cannabis use. According to medical authorities such as Cleveland Clinic and NIH-linked research, the only proven way to resolve CHS is to stop using cannabis altogether.
- Supportive care: During acute episodes, treatment may involve intravenous fluids (for dehydration), anti-nausea medications, and in some cases, alternative therapies such as topical capsaicin cream or warm showers/baths, which many patients report bring temporary relief.
- Challenges: Standard anti-nausea drugs often aren’t effective in CHS. Some patients suffer multiple ER visits before receiving the correct diagnosis. Others may resist the idea that cannabis often used medicinally for nausea could cause vomiting.
- Risk of relapse: Because CHS symptoms are cyclical and unpredictable, many users attribute episodes to bad meals or stomach flu rather than cannabis. Resuming use often triggers recurrent episodes.
Why This Matters For Public Health and Awareness
The formal recognition of CHS by WHO is more than bureaucratic: it’s a public health turning point. With a proper diagnosis code:
- Hospitals and clinics can now track & share data enabling researchers to better study CHS incidence, risk factors, and long-term outcomes.
- Medical professionals are more likely to recognize CHS early rather than misdiagnose it as stomach flu or food poisoning potentially saving lives and reducing repeated hospitalizations.
- Patients struggling with unexplained cyclic vomiting may finally get answers and potentially avoid unnecessary procedures or incorrect treatments.
As societies worldwide grapple with shifting laws, increased availability, and changing potency of cannabis products awareness of CHS is vital. Medical communities, patients, and public-health authorities should treat CHS not as a fringe issue but as a serious, diagnosable condition that demands attention.
Takeaway for labtestsguide.com Readers: If someone uses cannabis regularly for months or years and suffers cycles of severe nausea, repeated vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration or weight loss especially relief from hot showers they could be experiencing CHS. Physicians should consider asking about cannabis use, and patients should be aware that stopping cannabis might be the only effective way to stop the suffering.
References
- Mysterious marijuana-linked vomiting disorder gets official WHO code as ER cases jump – Fox News – (Accessed on Dec 01, 2025)
- Scromiting’ is the brutal new side effect of chronic cannabis use as ER visits surge – New York Post – (Accessed on Dec 01, 2025)
- Why more cannabis users are landing in the ER with severe vomiting – Science Daily – (Accessed on Dec 01, 2025)
