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rumination syndrome
Epidemiology:
- most common in children with mental retardation
- can occur in persons of normal intellect
Clinical manifestations:
- effortless regurgitation of undigested food & reswallowing the contents
- episodes generally occur within 30 minutes of a meal
- episodes may last 1-2 hours
- regurgitated food does not taste sour
- absence of nausea
- cessation of rumination when the regurgitated material taste sour (acidic)
Management:
- postprandial diaphragmatic breathing exercises
- technique generally taught by a psychologist
- prevents patient from contracting abdominal musculature that initiates the regurgitation
General
syndrome
eating disorder
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 16
American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 2012