BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuRumination disorderRumination disorder is a condition in which a person keeps bringing up food from the stomach into the mouth (regurgitation) and rechewing the food. Causes Rumination disorder most often starts after age 3 months, following a period of normal digestion. It occurs in infants and is rare in children and teenagers. The cause is often unknown. Certain problems, such as lack of stimulation of the infant, neglect, and high-stress family situations have been linked with the disorder.Rumination disorder may also occur in adults. Symptoms Symptoms include:Repeatedly bringing up (regurgitating) food Repeatedly rechewing food Symptoms must go on for at least 1 month to fit the definition of rumination disorder.People do not appear to be upset, retching, or disgusted when they bring up food. It may appear to cause pleasure. Exams and Tests The health care provider must first rule out physical causes, such as hiatal hernia, pyloric stenosis, and gastrointestinal system abnormalities that are present from birth (congenital). These conditions can be mistaken for rumination disorder.Hiatal herniaHiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pyloric stenosisPyloric stenosis is a narrowing of the opening from the stomach into the small intestine. This is called the pylorus. This article describes the co...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Rumination disorder can cause malnutrition. The following lab tests can measure how severe the malnutrition is and determine what nutrients need to be increased:MalnutritionMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood test for anemia AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Endocrine hormone functions Serum electrolytesElectrolytesElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Rumination disorder is treated with behavioral techniques. One treatment associates bad consequences with rumination and good consequences with more appropriate behavior (mild aversive training).Other techniques include improving the environment (if there is abuse or neglect) and counseling the parents. Outlook (Prognosis) In some cases, rumination disorder will disappear on its own, and the child will go back to eating normally without treatment. In other cases, treatment is needed. Possible Complications Complications may include:Failure to thrive Failure to thriveFailure to thrive refers to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is much lower than that of other children of similar age and sex....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lowered resistance to disease Malnutrition When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if your baby appears to be repeatedly spitting up, vomiting, or rechewing food.VomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention There is no known prevention. However, normal stimulation and healthy parent-child relationships may help reduce the odds of rumination disorder.Open ReferencesReferencesKatzman DK, Norris ML. Feeding and eating disorders. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/ Management. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 9.Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Rumination and pica. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 36.Mokha J. Vomiting and nausea. In: Wyllie R, Hyams JS, Kay M, eds. Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 8.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Failure to thrive(Condition) Review Date: 10/26/2021 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Rumination disorderRumination disorder is a condition in which a person keeps bringing up food from the stomach into the mouth (regurgitation) and rechewing the food. Causes Rumination disorder most often starts after age 3 months, following a period of normal digestion. It occurs in infants and is rare in children and teenagers. The cause is often unknown. Certain problems, such as lack of stimulation of the infant, neglect, and high-stress family situations have been linked with the disorder.Rumination disorder may also occur in adults. Symptoms Symptoms include:Repeatedly bringing up (regurgitating) food Repeatedly rechewing food Symptoms must go on for at least 1 month to fit the definition of rumination disorder.People do not appear to be upset, retching, or disgusted when they bring up food. It may appear to cause pleasure. Exams and Tests The health care provider must first rule out physical causes, such as hiatal hernia, pyloric stenosis, and gastrointestinal system abnormalities that are present from birth (congenital). These conditions can be mistaken for rumination disorder.Hiatal herniaHiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pyloric stenosisPyloric stenosis is a narrowing of the opening from the stomach into the small intestine. This is called the pylorus. This article describes the co...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Rumination disorder can cause malnutrition. The following lab tests can measure how severe the malnutrition is and determine what nutrients need to be increased:MalnutritionMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Blood test for anemia AnemiaAnemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. Different type...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Endocrine hormone functions Serum electrolytesElectrolytesElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Rumination disorder is treated with behavioral techniques. One treatment associates bad consequences with rumination and good consequences with more appropriate behavior (mild aversive training).Other techniques include improving the environment (if there is abuse or neglect) and counseling the parents. Outlook (Prognosis) In some cases, rumination disorder will disappear on its own, and the child will go back to eating normally without treatment. In other cases, treatment is needed. Possible Complications Complications may include:Failure to thrive Failure to thriveFailure to thrive refers to children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is much lower than that of other children of similar age and sex....Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lowered resistance to disease Malnutrition When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if your baby appears to be repeatedly spitting up, vomiting, or rechewing food.VomitingNausea is feeling an urge to vomit. It is often called "being sick to your stomach. "Vomiting or throwing-up forces the contents of the stomach up t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention There is no known prevention. However, normal stimulation and healthy parent-child relationships may help reduce the odds of rumination disorder.Open ReferencesReferencesKatzman DK, Norris ML. Feeding and eating disorders. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology/Diagnosis/ Management. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 9.Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Rumination and pica. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 36.Mokha J. Vomiting and nausea. In: Wyllie R, Hyams JS, Kay M, eds. Pediatric Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 8.