Repeated
regurgitation and rechewing of food for a period of at least 1
month following a period of normal eating habits characterizes's
Rumination Disorder. The behavior is not due to an associated
gastrointestinal or other general medical condition and the behavior
does not occur exclusively during the course of Anorexia
Nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa.
Associated
Features:
The infant is generally irritable and hungry between episodes
of regurgitation.
Hiatal
Hernia.
Differential
Diagnosis
Some disorders
have similar or even the same symptoms. The clinician, therefore,
in his/her diagnostic attempt, has to differentiate against
the following disorders which need to be ruled out to establish
a precise diagnosis.
Congenital
anomalies, such as pyloric stenosis, or infections of the gastrointestinal
system, can cause regurgitation of food, and need to be ruled
out by appropriate physical examinations and tests.
Cause:
Onset of
rumination disorder usually occurs after three months of age
however, the cause if often unknown. It is associated with medical
conditions such as hiatal hernia.
Treatment:
Rumination
disorder is treated with behavioral techniques such as mild
aversive training. combined with other techniques to improvement
in the child's psychosocial environment. In some cases rumination
disorder will have a spontaneous remission, and the child returns
to eating normally without treatment.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
Cognitive
behavioral therapy which includes the parents of the child.
