Definition
Rumination is a pathological phenomenon which consists in the regurgitation of small quantities of ingested food, followed by a partial rehabilitation and a new swallowing. This manifestation is generally observed 15-30 minutes after a meal, in the absence of symptoms such as nausea or pain.
Rumination is frequent in children aged 3-8 months, in which it is considered a defensive psychophysical mechanism for the deprivation of breastfeeding (infant rumination syndrome).
Among adults, patients suffering from achalasia or presenting a Zenker diverticulum may experience episodes of regurgitation after food ingestion. In subjects who do not have these oesophageal obstructive conditions, however, the physiopathology of rumination is little known, since retrograde contractions do not normally occur in the human esophagus.
A hypothesis holds that rumination is an adaptation to the reflection of eruption, therefore the individual would learn to relax the lower esophageal sphincter and, making rhythmic movements of the diaphragm to increase the gastric pressure, would push the undigested bolus up to the throat.
Rumination can be found in the presence of mental retardation and generalized developmental disorders.
Possible Causes * of Rumination
- Esophageal diverticula
- Prader-Willi syndrome
