World Health Organization (WHO) Recognizes Scromiting or Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS)

Key facts

• ‘Scromiting’ is a term coined by ER staff to describe Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS), combining ‘screaming’ and ‘vomiting’.
• CHS is characterised by repeated episodes of severe nausea, intense abdominal pain, and frequent vomiting.
• WHO added CHS to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) under ICD-10 family (R11.16) and ICD-11 (DD90.4).
• Long-term cannabis use leads to CHS.
• George Washington University researchers published findings on CHS burden in the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
• CHS occurs in chronic cannabis users and causes cyclical nausea, uncontrollable vomiting, and excruciating pain.
• Arizona State University researchers linked elevated Fusarium mycotoxins in illicit cannabis to CHS.