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Rumination disorder

 

Rumination disorder is a condition in which a person keeps bringing up food from the stomach into the mouth (regurgitation) and rechewing the food.

Causes

Rumination disorder most often starts after age 3 months, following a period of normal digestion. It occurs in infants and is rare in children and teenagers. The cause is often unknown. Certain problems, such as lack of stimulation of the infant, neglect, and high-stress family situations, have been linked with the disorder.

Rumination disorder may also occur in adults.

Symptoms

 

Symptoms include:

  • Repeatedly bringing up (regurgitating) food
  • Repeatedly rechewing food

Symptoms must go on for at least 1 month to fit the definition of rumination disorder.

People do not appear to be upset, retching, or disgusted when they bring up food. It may appear to cause pleasure.

 

Exams and Tests

 

The health care provider must first rule out physical causes, such as hiatal hernia , pyloric stenosis , and gastrointestinal system abnormalities that are present from birth (congenital). These conditions can be mistaken for rumination disorder.

Rumination disorder can cause malnutrition . The following lab tests can measure how severe the malnutrition is and determine what nutrients need to be increased:

  • Blood test for anemia
  • Endocrine - hormone functions
  • Serum electrolytes

 

Treatment

 

Rumination disorder is treated with behavioral techniques. One treatment associates bad consequences with rumination and good consequences with more appropriate behavior (mild aversive training).

Other techniques include improving the environment (if there is abuse or neglect) and counseling the parents.

 

Outlook (Prognosis)

 

In some cases, rumination disorder will disappear on its own, and the child will go back to eating normally without treatment. In other cases, treatment is needed.

 

Possible Complications

 

Complications may include:

  • Failure to thrive
  • Lowered resistance to disease
  • Malnutrition

 

When to Contact a Medical Professional

 

Call your provider if your baby appears to be repeatedly spitting up, vomiting , or rechewing food.

 

Prevention

 

There is no known prevention. However, normal stimulation and healthy parent-child relationships may help reduce the odds of rumination disorder.

 

 

References

Katz ER, Kitts RL, DeMaso DR. Rumination and pica. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 20th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 23.

Katzman DK, Kearney SA, Becker AE. Feeding and eating disorders. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease . 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2016:chap 9.

 

        A Closer Look

         

          Self Care

           

            Tests for Rumination disorder

             

               

              Review Date: 10/27/2015

              Reviewed By: Subodh K. Lal, MD, gastroenterologist with Gastrointestinal Specialists of Georgia, Austell, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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