Rumination Syndrome: An Emerging Case Scenario.

This article describes the case of a 19-year-old woman presenting with repetitive episodes of effortless vomiting, which started within 3 weeks of her naval boot camp training. She underwent a battery of costly investigations before the diagnosis of rumination syndrome could be made. One of the reasons for her delayed diagnosis is that many physicians are unaware of, or are reluctant to make the diagnosis of rumination syndrome. The purpose of this article is to make the general physician aware of the possibility of rumination syndrome in adolescents and adults of normal intelligence, even though it was initially considered only in infants and mentally retarded individuals. The key to diagnosis is a thorough patient history. Reassurance and behavioral therapy is the mainstay of treatment, with a reported success of >80%.

Attri N, Ravipati M, Agrawal P, Healy C, Feller A.

From the Department of Internal Medicine Rosalind Franklin University of Medical Sciences, Oak Park, IL; RFUMS Gastroenterology Section North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center, The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL.