Rumination Disorder In Children And Infants
How Is It Related To Eating Disorders?

Rumination Disorder, also known as Rumination Syndrome, is a lesser known form of disordered eating that occurs most often in children and infants. It involves the efortless regurgitation of food. What is the diagnosis and treatment for this illness?

Although Rumination Disorder is usually seen during childhood and infancy, there have been several documented cases of it in people with mental disabilities.

It seems that the key here is "effortless regurgitation". There is no retching, odor or abdominal pain associated with this condition like there is with typical vomiting.

The overall signs and symptoms can vary between individuals, but regurgitation of undigested food is always present.

One of the reasons that this illness is often misdiagnosed is that it's so closely related to bulimia, as well as diseases of the stomach and esophagus.

If the sufferer happens to be and adolescent or adult, they are usually very private about it and will not likely bring it to the attention of physicians or anyone else.

What Causes Rumination Disorder?

There is no general consensus of opinion as to what causes Rumination Disorder, but are a few different theories.

Severe stress or physical illness could be a trigger. The Syndrome has also been linked to depression.

It's also thought that neglect, lack of physical contact, or abnormal care-giver/child relationship could be factors.

For some children, the act of chewing and spitting is self soothing and comforting. If they are missing nurturing from the parent, the illness would mimic the same kind of biological or physiological responses.

Depending on the child, it may also be a way of getting attention. If this is the case, then obviously the cause would be strictly behavioral.

Diagnosis And Treatment For Rumination Syndrome

It's encouraging to know that, if caught early, Rumination Syndrome can usually be diagnosed without any invasive tests or procedures.

Accurate history and description of symptoms, along with behavioral observation of the patient is normally all that's required.

However, a doctor may opt to perform certain gastrointestinal procedures, x-rays or blood work in order to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

Treatment depends on the age of the patient, but for children it usually involves psychotherapy to improve communication between mother and child.

In 85 percent of cases, treatment is successful, so the prognosis for Rumination Disorder is very good.

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