Rumination Disorder

Rumination Disorder

Clinical Features

Some infants acquire the habit of regurgitating small amounts of sour, curdled, gastric contents from time to time throughout the day.

The infant appears to initiate vomiting, undergoing a series of grimaces, thrusting his head and neck forward, roving his mandible back and forth in rhythmic movements like a cow chewing its cud. He stiffens his body and arches his neck and finally expels the food with force. The onset of rumination is usually in the first month of life, and runs through the first year of life. The infant usually thrives reasonably well.

Treatment

No definite treatment is needed and relieving anxiety of the parents is often helpful. Thickening the feeds may also be tried.