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

More general terms

• syndrome
• eating disorder