Varied citrus treatment of ruminant gagging in a teenager with Batten's disease

Overview of the treatment of rumination disorder for adults in a residential setting

Rumination, or the chewing and re-swallowing of regurgitated stomach contents, can be found in up to 10% of institutionalized individuals with severe or profound mental retardation. Serious physical consequences, including death, can result from the disorder. Unfortunately, rumination can be subtle and difficult to observe and often continues untreated. Additionally, the research literature has provided divergent results without clear treatment guidance for clinicians. We present an overview of the history of rumination, a review of the literature on its etiology and treatment, and recommendations for future research.

Rumination: the eating disorder of infancy

Rumination is a relatively rare, potentially fatal syndrome in infants. This article reviews the historical and current treatment of rumination. Two cases are presented: a six-month-old who narrowly escaped surgery when the disorder was not recognized, and a complicated case from the neonatology intensive care unit. Environmental changes and enhanced mothering are described as being critical to correction of rumination and appropriate weight gain.