Rumination Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: A Mini Review

Introduction: Rumination syndrome involves recurrent regurgitation of food and is believed to be underdiagnosed with patients experiencing long delays in diagnosis. It can be associated with significant social consequences, high rates of school absenteeism, and medical complications such as weight loss. The primary aims of the current review are to assess the literature regarding prevalence, pathophysiology, and treatment outcomes with a focus on neurotypical children and adolescents.

Results: Population studies in children/adolescents, 5 years of age or older, range from 0 to 5.1%. There are fewer studies in clinical settings, but the prevalence appears to be higher in patients with other gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly chronic vomiting. While physiologic changes that occur during a rumination episode are well-described, the underlying cause is less well-defined. In general, rumination appears to have similarities to other functional gastrointestinal disorders including dysmotility, possibly inflammation, and an interaction with psychologic function. While diaphragmatic breathing is considered the mainstay of treatment, pediatric data demonstrating efficacy is lacking, especially as an isolated treatment.

Conclusion: Pediatric rumination syndrome remains greatly understudied, particularly regarding treatment. There is a need to better define prevalence in both the primary care and subspecialty clinical settings, especially in patients presenting with vomiting or apparent gastroesophageal reflux. There is a need to determine whether treatment of co-morbid conditions results in improvement of rumination. Diaphragmatic breathing needs to be studied and compared to other competing responses.

Introduction

Rumination syndrome in children and adolescents is defined by Rome IV criteria as repeated regurgitation with rechewing or expulsion of food that begins shortly after meal ingestion, does not occur at night, and is not preceded by retching (1). While rumination can occur in any youth, three different groups have been the focus of research: infants/toddlers, neurodiverse youth (e.g., those with psychiatric, neurologic, or developmental disorders), and neurotypical youth (2, 3). Etiologies and treatments vary significantly by group. The focus of the current article is neurotypical children and adolescents.

Rumination is believed to be underdiagnosed, with patients seeing numerous providers and experiencing long delays before diagnosis (4, 5). Patients are frequently believed to have refractory gastro-esophageal reflux (6). Rumination also is frequently associated with other gastrointestinal symptoms—including abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea—which may become the focus of evaluation (5, 7). While the diagnosis of rumination does not require testing, evaluations such as endoscopy, gastric emptying studies, and pH studies are frequently undertaken to evaluate regurgitation (5, 8). While abnormal tests are not uncommon, it is unknown whether abnormal tests are clinically important or identify factors important to generation of rumination. In addition, rumination itself may result in abnormal test results such as an abnormal pH or impedance study generated by frequent rumination.

Rumination is generally believed to be “benign” from the standpoint of physical complications. However, rumination can be associated with significant social consequences, including high rates of school absenteeism, and medical complications have been reported, including dental erosions (5, 7, 9). Rumination syndrome in youth also has been associated with weight loss in 17–43% (5, 7).

This article represents a review of the most current information on rumination syndrome in neurotypical youth (those without co-morbid neurologic or developmental disorders), particularly prevalence, pathophysiology, and treatment outcomes.

Search Strategy and Selection Criteria

With the assistance of a medical librarian from the Children's Mercy Kansas City, we conducted a systematic search of the literature. Following the PRISMA checklist, we queried five electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Scopus from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2020. Our search strategy centered on Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and key words relevant to our research question. Key words included: rumination, rumination syndrome, infant, child, adolescent, and pediatric. Additionally, we cross-referenced bibliographies from relevant background articles with our search results to ensure completeness.

We included all studies published from January 1, 2000 through June 30, 2020 that were available in English. Our study population consisted of patients aged 1–21 years of age inclusive. Single case reports were excluded. Series reporting treatment outcome were included only for sample sizes >5. Articles not reporting prevalence, pathophysiology, or treatment outcomes were not included. Letters to the editor, review articles, book chapters, and published abstracts were excluded with the exception that bibliographies from review articles were assessed for additional references. Duplicates were removed by reviewing and comparing abstracts. Remaining titles and abstracts (N = 325) were reviewed independently by the authors for eligibility, yielding 49 articles for full review. Data extractions were performed independently by two reviewers (MM and SR). After comparing results, any discrepancies were resolved. Our search yielded 18 manuscripts related to prevalence, 8 related to pathophysiology, and 5 related to treatment in pediatric rumination syndrome.

Prevalence

Most prevalence estimates have resulted from general population studies, often performed in schools [(10–27); see Table 1]. Estimates are available from countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Overall, prevalence ranges from 0 to 9.7% with a tendency to be higher in children 4 years of age or younger when studies assess across wide pediatric age ranges. The prevalence in youth 5 years of age or older range from 0 to 5.1%. In these older children and adolescents, the highest prevalence has been reported in two studies in Sri Lanka and one from the United States (18, 23, 27). Outside Sri Lanka, other studies in Asian countries report low prevalence, as do studies of older children in South America (14, 19, 21, 22, 25). All but two of the 18 prevalence studies have utilized the Questionnaire on Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms (QPGS; usually the Rome III version) or the closely related Rome IV Diagnostic Questionnaire. Most often, a translated version of the QPGS was utilized although it is often unclear whether the translated version had been validated. Most studies evaluated prevalence across all pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders, including reporting of rumination syndrome prevalence data under this broader umbrella. Two studies utilized the Eating Disturbances in Youth Questionnaire (EDY-Q) and assessed specifically for rumination and pica (16, 20). These two studies generally tended to report higher prevalence. Only one study utilized Rome IV criteria, also reporting prevalence by Rome III criteria (21). As compared to Rome III criteria, Rome IV eliminated the requirement that rumination be painless and also unresponsive to treatment directed at gastroesophageal reflux. In this study, rumination prevalence was very similar between the two criteria (0.5 vs. 0.4%) (21).

TABLE 1

Table 1. Summary of studies reporting prevalence in pediatric rumination syndrome.

While there are a relatively large number of general population studies, there are very few studies performed in a clinical setting, particularly in older children and adolescents. Malik and colleagues diagnosed rumination in 30 of 50 patients presenting to a pediatric gastroenterology for a primary complaint of vomiting (7). In two studies, older youth tended to report prevalence on the higher end when assessed in a pediatric gastroenterology clinic (3.5%; United States) or for a recurrent abdominal pain in a general outpatient clinic (2%; Norway) (26, 27). This gastroenterology clinic study also compared prevalence based on parent report as compared to self-report in youth 10 years of age or older and found a >4-fold higher prevalence by self-report (3.5 vs. 0.8%) (27). Utilizing the QPGS, we have previously shown a discordance in diagnosis between parent and child report across abdominal pain-associated functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs); this may hold true for rumination, as well, but further evaluation is needed (28). While the prevalence of rumination has been studied in general populations, given the high variability from study-to-study, it is unclear whether the methodology is sufficient to identify all patients with rumination. More studies specifically assessing rumination in the general population are needed. Additionally, more studies are needed to understand the prevalence in a clinical setting, particularly in patients with other gastrointestinal symptoms given that rumination frequently is associated with other FGIDs (14, 23).

Pathophysiology

It has been proposed that there may be three pathways to development of rumination: (1) a primary pathway involving premonitory urges (such as seen in tic disorders); (2) a pathway secondary to ongoing pathophysiology (such as gastroesophageal reflux); and, (3) a pathway secondary to psychosocial mechanisms stemming from a behavioral association which could begin in the presence of other FGIDs (e.g., to reduce pressure and pain in the stomach) and persist as a learned behavior in response to contextual clues (such as foods or changes in visceral sensation) after resolution of the other FGID (29). It is likely that there are overlapping mechanisms in individual patients.

Utilizing antroduodenal motility studies or high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) with esophageal impedance monitoring, the physiologic changes occurring during a rumination episode have been well-described and appear consistent irrespective of the triggering event. Although the intragastric pressure threshold has varied somewhat from study to study, rumination involves strong voluntary but generally unconscious contraction of the muscles of the abdominal wall promoting an increase in intragastric pressure with subsequent movement of gastric contents into the esophagus and mouth (i.e., the “R” or retrograde wave) (30, 31). Care needs to be taken to ensure that increases in abdominal pressure are not due to coughing or speaking. In controls, gastroesophageal reflux episodes are not associated with intragastric pressure increases of this magnitude (31). In youth with rumination, a significant portion of rumination episodes are preceded by gastroesophageal reflux (31, 32). Utilizing HREM and impedance, Rosen and colleagues described three distinct patterns in patients with primary rumination (i.e., where rumination is not induced by a reflux episode): lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation without retrograde flow before the R wave in 51%, an R wave followed by LES relaxation in 20%, and an R wave without LES relaxation in 29% of episodes (32).

In the absence of gastroesophageal reflux as a triggering event, the etiology of rumination is not well-delineated, particularly in children. Rumination is frequently associated with other gastrointestinal symptoms or functional gastrointestinal disorders. Concomitant abdominal pain has been reported in 23–38%, nausea in 17–30%, and constipation in 21–23% of youth previously diagnosed with rumination (5, 7). This might suggest some shared pathophysiology or that other gastrointestinal conditions may predispose to development of rumination. Dysmotility, poor accommodation, and visceral hyperalgesia have been described in functional dyspepsia (FD), another FGID originating from the upper gastrointestinal tract (33). Gastric emptying has been evaluated in youth with rumination and delayed emptying reported in 30–46% (5, 8). Whether abnormal studies are indicative of poor emptying or an artifact created by frequent regurgitation is not clear. We found no studies assessing accommodation or visceral sensitivity in youth with rumination. In adults, impaired accommodation has been reported in <10% (34). In an adult study utilizing a barostat to distend the gastric fundus, patients with rumination reported increased nausea and bloating with no difference in gastric compliance or accommodation; however, the patients demonstrating no accommodation reported increased pain at increased pressures (35). Rumination patients also had increased gastric sensitivity during gastric distension (35). This may suggest a role for accommodation and/or visceral hypersensitivity in at least a subset of youth with rumination.

There is a paucity of studies evaluating inflammation in rumination syndrome. Gastrointestinal inflammation has been implicated in other functional gastrointestinal disorders, including functional dyspepsia, in youth (36). Specifically, associations have been demonstrated with increased density and activation of eosinophils and mast cells (36). Adult rumination syndrome has been associated with an increase in duodenal eosinophils and intraepithelial lymphocytes (37). Recently, we found an increase in gastric antral eosinophils and mast cells, as well as duodenal eosinophils and intraepithelial lymphocytes, in youth with rumination syndrome (38).

Treatment

Diaphragmatic breathing has emerged as the mainstay of treatment. While open trials and randomized controlled trials of diaphragmatic breathing have contained some older adolescents, they are primarily studies which have been performed in adults. A systematic review of primarily adult studies assessing rumination, concluded that the efficacy of diaphragmatic breathing was supported by four chart reviews, two open clinical trials (N= 28 and N= 10), and one randomized trial (N = 23) which all demonstrated a significant decrease in daily regurgitation (29). It is believed that the primary mode of action of diaphragmatic breathing is that it creates a competing response to the abdominal wall contractions that create a rumination episode (39, 40). In adults, diaphragmatic breathing counteracts the increase in intragastric pressure and also increases pressure at the esophageal-gastric junction (41). While diaphragmatic breathing results in a significant decrease in rumination episodes, for many or most patients, rumination continues albeit at a lower rate (39, 40, 42). Other techniques for creating competing responses (e.g., chewing or sucking on hard candy or peppermints) have been reported in individual patients but not studied in controlled trials or in comparison to diaphragmatic breathing (29).

To the extent that stress is an exacerbating factor in rumination, diaphragmatic breathing also may provide indirect benefit by inducing a relaxation response that can further minimize the likelihood of rumination (43). Other commonly employed methods for addressing anxiety, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or hypnosis, are frequently utilized as part of multiple interventions in the treatment of rumination but have not been evaluated individually in controlled trials for the treatment of rumination.

As noted earlier, in a prospective study of patients in a pediatric gastroenterology clinic, Malik and colleagues evaluated 50 children presenting with vomiting and diagnosed rumination syndrome in 30 (7). Seven of these self-resolved without treatment after the initial consultation, counseling, and evaluation and 23 underwent education regarding the pathophysiology of rumination and were taught diaphragmatic breathing. Of these 23 patients, rumination resolved in 82.6% initially, although 28.5% of these relapsed (7). In a retrospective study of 52 children utilizing instruction in diaphragmatic breathing, biofeedback, relaxation training, and/or cognitive behavioral therapy, rumination resolved in 29.6%, improved in 55.6%, and was unchanged in 12.9% (5). In a group of 12 patients treated as inpatients with antidepressants, anxiolytics, and cognitive behavioral therapy with biofeedback or relaxation techniques, resolution or improvement was seen in 10 of 12 patients (44). In a long-term (9.5–48.5 months) follow-up study of patients treated for rumination, 40% reported a rumination-free period of 2 weeks−6 months and 19% a remission-free period of >6 months (43). However, over 70% of those with prolonged remission periods had recurrence, most often associated with stress, illness, specific foods, or menstruation—triggers also common for other FGIDs (43).

There have been very few studies evaluating medications in the treatment of rumination syndrome and most involve medication in combination with other treatment modalities. While acid-reduction therapy or promotility agents are frequently instituted to treat presumed gastroesophageal reflux, clinic experience (in the absence of prospective, controlled trials) would indicate they are not effective in rumination (29). Certainly, if a patient with suspected gastroesophageal reflux is not responsive to acid-reduction therapy (although ideally earlier), rumination should be considered. In the only prospective placebo-controlled trial we identified, Pauwels and colleagues assessed the effects of baclofen in 20 patients, ages 18–61 years, with suspected rumination or supra-gastric belching (45). Baclofen resulted in a higher rate of subjective improvement (63 vs. 26%), increased lower esophageal sphincter pressure, decreased transient lower esophageal relaxation, and decreased reflux episodes (45). A case series also reported decreased rumination in 12 adults treated with baclofen (46). These findings suggest that baclofen may be helpful in reducing rumination, at least in part, by decreasing gastroesophageal reflux which may induce rumination. Baclofen has been reported to be helpful in pediatric gastroesophageal reflux as well and thus could be considered in the treatment of rumination in children and adolescents (47).

While some patients may experience resolution of rumination following a basic introduction of competing responses such as diaphragmatic breathing, a significant proportion will continue to have on-going symptoms or experience relapse. This is particularly true for those with co-morbid anxiety or depression and when experiencing stress (43, 48). Most patients will be better served by an interdisciplinary team consisting of a medical provider, a mental health provider, and often a dietician, particularly in the setting of weight loss. Treatment begins with confirming the diagnosis, providing reassurance, and educating patients on the pathophysiology of rumination syndrome, including factors which may exacerbate symptoms. The role of the medical provider is to assess and treat co-morbid conditions (e.g., gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain) and/or biologic factors (e.g., inflammation, nerve sensitivity, motility issues) that may underlie or complicate rumination, and to consider medications to augment behavioral interventions for rumination. The role of the mental health provider is to assess and treat co-morbid psychological conditions that may serve a contributory role (e.g., anxiety, depression), improve autonomic balance and rest/digest functions via relaxation training, and engage the patient in habit reversal training focused on identification of effective competing responses and the optimal timing/triggers for their use.

Conclusions and Future Directions

Pediatric rumination syndrome remains greatly understudied with regard to prevalence, pathophysiology, and particularly regarding treatment. There is a need to better define prevalence in both the primary care and subspecialty clinical settings, especially in patients presenting with vomiting or apparent gastroesophageal reflux. The history in these patients should include assessment of symptoms indicative of rumination. In patients where rumination is preceded by lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and/or reflux, there is a need for follow-up studies to determine whether treatment of gastroesophageal reflux results in resolution of rumination. Given that rumination is often accompanied by other gastrointestinal symptoms, or other FGIDs, and may be a compensatory mechanism learned to control discomfort, there is a need to determine whether treatment of co-morbid conditions results in improvement of rumination. If the triggering event is still present (whether stress, inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux, etc.), it may be more difficult to effectively treat rumination and harder to gain adherence to future repeat behavioral treatment efforts following treatment failure. Although diaphragmatic breathing likely has benefit for rumination syndrome, significant long-term efficacy in youth has yet to be demonstrated with relatively high rates of relapse and short duration of symptom-free periods. It needs to be studied and compared to other competing responses (e.g., gum chewing or sucking on hard candy, particularly peppermints as these may have additional benefits in relaxing smooth muscle and improving accommodation). As most pediatric reports have included multiple treatment modalities, individual components need to be studied to understand which are effective (alone or in combination) to increase the efficiency of care.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to conceptualization of this review. MM, SR, and HF completed the initial literature review. MM, SR, HF, and CF completed the initial manuscript draft. All authors provided critical review and editing.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Acknowledgments

We thank Katie Dayani, MLS, AHIP for her assistance in the literature search.

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