CHS Gets ICD Code, Affecting 2.75 Million U.S. Cannabis Users a Year
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 10
CHS Gets ICD Code, Affecting 2.75 Million U.S. Cannabis Users a Year
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 10
Summary
October brought cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome its own ICD diagnosis code, a step researchers say should improve tracking of a condition often missed in emergency rooms.
About 2.75 million Americans may experience CHS each year, typically after years of daily or near-daily cannabis use that appears to dysregulate the body’s cannabinoid system and trigger cycles of nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting.
Hot showers and baths often ease symptoms enough that ER doctors use that pattern as a diagnostic clue, but CHS is still usually a diagnosis of exclusion because standard tests can come back normal.
Stopping cannabis remains the only proven long-term treatment; IV fluids, anti-nausea drugs and capsaicin cream may help acutely, while repeat cannabis exposure can bring symptoms back and severe untreated cases can cause dehydration, kidney problems, arrhythmias or death.