Treatment:

Rumination disorder is treated with behavioral techniques. One treatment associates bad consequences with rumination and good consequences with more appropriate behavior (mild aversive training).

Other techniques include improving the child's environment (if there is abuse or neglect) and counseling the parents.

Expectations (prognosis):

In some cases rumination disorder will disappear on its own, and the child will go back to eating normally without treatment. In other cases, treatment is necessary.

Complications:

• Failure to thrive
• Lowered resistance to disease
• Malnutrition

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if your baby appears to be repeatedly spitting up, vomiting, or rechewing food.