OBJECTIVE: To describe an adolescent with pathologic aerophagia, a rare condition caused by excessive and inappropriate swallowing of air and to review its treatment and differential diagnoses. CASE DESCRIPTION: An 11 year-old mentally impaired blind @entity1 presenting @entity146 and severe @entity245 with @entity1661 from the last 8 months. Her past history included a Nissen fundoplication. Abdominal CT and abdominal radiographs showed @entity5745 of the small bowel and colon. @entity1963 was excluded. The distention was minimal at the moment the @entity1 awoke and maximal at evening, and persisted after control of @entity1142 . Audible repetitive and frequent movements of air swallowing were observed. The diagnosis of pathologic aerophagia associated to @entity3119 and @entity245 was made, but pharmacological treatment was unsuccessful. The @entity1 was submitted to an endoscopic gastrostomy, permanently opened and elevated relative to the stomach. The distention was resolved, while maintaining oral nutrition COMMENTS: Pathologic aerophagia is a rare self-limiting condition in normal @entity1 exposed to high levels of stress and may be a persisting problem in @entity1 with @entity146 . In this last group, the disease may cause serious complications. Pharmacological and behavioral treatments are ill-defined. Severe cases may demand surgical strategies, mainly decompressive gastrostomy.

[Pathologic aerophagia: a rare cause of chronic XXXX ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'girl', 'patient', 'child'] @entity5745 :: ('MESH:D011007', 'Disease') :: ['diffuse gas distension'] @entity146 :: ('MESH:D001523', 'Disease') :: ['psychiatric or neurologic disease', 'serious behavior problems'] @entity1661 :: ('MESH:D000008', 'Disease') :: ['abdominal distension'] @entity245 :: ('MESH:D002658', 'Disease') :: ['developmental delay'] @entity1963 :: ('MESH:D006627', 'Disease') :: ["Hirschsprung's disease"] @entity3119 :: ('MESH:D009771', 'Disease') :: ['obsessive compulsive disorder'] @entity1142 :: ('MESH:D003248', 'Disease') :: ['constipation']
@entity1661 :: (MESH:D000008,Disease) :: ['abdominal distension']
