Mayo Clinic home page [logo]

Search

  • Print
  • Share
close

Share this on...

Share this site with others using one of these sharing tools.

 

Link to this article

To link to this article, paste this block of HTML code onto your webpage.

Guidelines for sites linking to mayoclinic.org

Rumination Syndrome

Symptoms

To be considered rumination syndrome, regurgitation of recently ingested food needs to occur for at least six weeks, though it may come and go. Regurgitation typically:

  • Is effortless (as opposed to forced vomiting)
  • Isn't associated with heartburn, abdominal pain or nausea
  • Begins within 30 minutes of ingesting a meal
  • Is associated with either re-swallowing or spitting out food
  • Stops within 60 minutes or when regurgitated food becomes acidic-tasting
  • Doesn't occur while lying down or sleeping
  • Isn't associated with a physical obstruction
  • Doesn't respond to standard treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (i.e., medical therapy or lifestyle modification measures)

Frequency of rumination varies greatly between patients. Some ruminate only a few times a week, while others ruminate after every meal.

Rumination syndrome can be confused with gastroparesis, an upper gastrointestinal motility disorder that results in slow stomach emptying. The chart below helps distinguish symtoms of gastroparesis from rumination syndrome:

Gastroparesis Rumination Syndrome
Periodicity Few bad days a month Every day, every meal
Timing 2-4 hours after meal About half an hour after a meal
Vomitus Bitter, sour Just like food
Re-swallows Food Never Often
Terms of Use and Information Applicable to this Site
Copyright ©2001-2010 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All Rights Reserved.

.