Nonpharmacological Treatment of Rumination Syndrome in Childhood: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Sartori, R., Della Torca, A., et al. (2024).
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 78(4), 763-773.
<div>This systematic review investigates the effects of nonpharmacological treatments for children with rumination syndrome, aged 5 to 21. Rumination syndrome is a functional disorder characterized by recurrent, repetitive regurgitation of recently swallowed foods.</div>
Ministry of Health (Italy); Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo (Italy)
2000 to 2023
<div>Experimental studies excluding case reports and case series with <5 subjects</div>
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<div>Non-pharmacological treatments (e.g., diaphragmatic breathing, counseling, biofeedback) had mixed effects on feeding and swallowing-related outcomes in children with rumination syndrome. Remission rates ranged from 0% to 100%, symptom improvement rates ranged from 8% to 88%, and a lack of treatment response rate ranged from 4% to 17%. Overall, high treatment intensity and clinician training appeared to be crucial factors for treatment success. </div>
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<div>Of note, the majority of studies included behavioral treatments combined with psychotherapy. Limitations to this review include limited available research, small sample sizes, and heterogeneity between studies. </div>
