Rumination disorder
Overview
Rumination disorder may be diagnosed when a person deliberately brings food back up into the mouth and either rechews and reswallows it or spits it out.
Symptoms
* Regurgitation of food * Failure to thrive * Wasting of body
Causes
There is no general agreement on the causes of rumination disorder. In infants, it is thought to be caused by a lack of nurturing or physical contact. The child's rumination may represent an attempt to stimulate or soothe him- or herself. Biological factors are also being explored as possible causes of rumination disorder.
Prevention
There is no known way to prevent rumination disorder. It is possible, however, that a strong parent-child bond may reduce the possibility of the disorder occurring in infants.
Diagnosis
Children suspected of having Rumination Disorder should first be seen by a pediatrician to determine whether there are any physical causes of regurgitation. A medical exam can also determine whether children are suffering from malnutrition, dehydration, and/or nutrient deficiencies. Next, an environmental assessment will typically be conducted in order to determine whether family relationship problems, a lack of stimulation, and/or specific consequences (obtaining attention from caregivers) are linked to the behavior.
Prognosis
In many cases, rumination that begins in infancy stops on its own. The disorder should be treated, however, because infants with untreated rumination disorder are at risk of malnutrition and death caused by dehydration. Treatments for rumination disorder are generally very effective. Treatment of associated eating disorders in adults is generally regarded as successful.
Treatment
Treatment for rumination disorder depends on the cause of the behavior. Infants who are thought to ruminate because of a lack of affection may be fed by someone other than their mother or father. This person can be a replacement while their parents receive treatment themselves. Other approaches involve therapy and parenting education to create a stronger bond between the parents and the child. The treatment of adult patients includes giving them chewing gum to use when rumination might normally occur. Other researchers have found that giving mentally retarded adults filling meals may reduce rumination. Often, treating such eating disorders as anorexia or bulimia helps to resolve the rumination that may be associated with those disorders. Behavior modification techniques that help a patient to unlearn the ruminating behavior have also been used.