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Bulimia

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Bulimia nervosa; Binge-purge behavior; Eating disorder - bulimia

Symptoms:

• Binge eating
• Self-induced vomiting
• Inappropriate use of diuretics or laxatives
• Overachieving behavior

Signs and tests:

A dental exam may show dental cavities or gum infections (such as gingivitis ). The enamel of the teeth may be eroded or pitted because of excessive exposure to acid in vomitus.

A chem-20 may show an electrolyte imbalance (such as hypokalemia ) or dehydration .

• Review Date: 10/31/2006
• Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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