Understanding Rumination disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Rumination disorder

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Rumination syndrome

General

Rumination syndrome is a condition in which people repeatedly and unintentionally spit up (regurgitate) undigested or partially digested food from the stomach, rechew it, and then either reswallow it or spit it out. Because the food hasn't yet been digested, it reportedly tastes normal and isn't acidic, as vomit is. Rumination typically happens at every meal, soon after eating.

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Signs & symptoms

* Effortless regurgitation, typically within 10 minutes of eating * Abdominal pain or pressure relieved by regurgitation * A feeling of fullness * Bad breath * Nausea * Unintentional weight loss * Rumination syndrome isn't usually associated with retching.

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your or your child's current symptoms and medical history. An initial examination, and sometimes observation of behavior, is often enough to diagnose rumination syndrome. Sometimes high-resolution esophageal manometry and impedance measurement are used to confirm the diagnosis. This testing shows whether there is increased pressure in the abdomen. It can also provide an image of the disordered function for use in behavioral therapy. Other tests that may be used to rule out other possible causes of your or your child's symptoms include: * Esophagogastroduodenoscopy * Gastric emptying

Treatment

Treatment depends on the exclusion of other disorders, as well as on age and cognitive ability. * Behavior therapy- Habit reversal behavior therapy is used to treat people without developmental disabilities who have rumination syndrome. People learn to recognize when rumination occurs and to breathe in and out using the abdominal muscles (diaphragmatic breathing) during those times. Diaphragmatic breathing prevents abdominal contractions and regurgitation. Biofeedback is part of behavioral therapy for rumination syndrome. During biofeedback, imaging can help you or your child learn diaphragmatic breathing skills to counteract regurgitation. * Medication- If frequent rumination is damaging the esophagus, proton pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole (Nexium) or omeprazole (Prilosec) may be prescribed. These medications can protect the lining of the esophagus until behavior therapy reduces the frequency and severity of regurgitation. Some people with rumination syndrome may benefit from treatment with medication that helps relax the stomach in the period after eating.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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