Functional Aerophagia in Children: A Frequent, Atypical Disorder

Functional aerophagia (FA) involves excessive air swallowing causing progressive abdominal distension. The typical clinical presentation is a non-distended abdomen in the morning, progressive abdominal distension during the day, visible, often audible, air swallowing and excessive flatus. When FA is associated with various gastrointestinal symptoms, such as burping, abdominal pain, flatulence and belching, this condition is defined as pathologic aerophagia [1]. Pathologic aerophagia is present in 8.8% of the mentally retarded population [2]. The mechanisms of onset of FA are correlated with involuntary paroxysmal openings of the cricopharyngeal sphincter followed by air swallows without cricopharyngeal swallowing movement sequences [3]. The Rome II and III criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) include the definition of aerophagia [4]. In many reported cases, the diagnosis is missed initially and parents often deny a functional origin of the disease to search for organic diseases. Gastrointestinal symptoms can be associated with a reduction in oral intake. We describe two pediatric cases of FA without underlying mental retardation.

An 8-year-old boy was admitted with a history of abdominal bloating associated with rectal tenesmus and increased flatus. These symptoms recurred especially during the afternoon and evening. No associated gastrointestinal symptoms were reported. His clinical history was characterized by rumination in the first years of life with associated non-organic feeding disorders as a picky eater. Radioallergosorbent test for alimentary and inhalant allergens, skin prick tests and celiac screening was negative. Ultrasonography did not reveal any organomegaly or fluid presence in the abdomen. Abdominal radiographs showed a distended colon with increased gas in the rectum and coprostasis, without signs of obstruction. On physical examination, weight was 22 kg and height 129 cm, with a mild degree of malnutrition according to the Waterloo classification. Cardiorespiratory objectivity was normal. A significantly non-tender, hypertympanitic abdominal distension was present. No hepatomegaly nor splenomegaly were noted. Rectal examination revealed a sensation of hypertonic anus sphincter without perineal erythema and stool. Neurologic examination was normal. The following laboratory investigations were performed: complete blood count (red blood cell count 5.1 × 10⁶/mm³, Hb 13.8 g/dl, HCT 43%, MCV 84 fl, white blood cell count 5 × 10³/mm³, neutrophils 34%, lymphocytes 60%, monocytes 4%, eosinophils 2%, basophils 0%, platelets 297 × 10³/mm³), C-reactive protein was 0.10 mg/dl (normal 0-0.50 mg/dl), erythrocyte sedimentation rate 5 mm within the first hour, glycemia 68 mg/dl, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase 26 IU/l, serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase 14 IU/l, serum gamma-GT 7 IU/l, amylase 67 U/l, lipase 27 U/l, BUN 26 mg/dl, creatine 0.5 mg/dl, iron 54 μg/dl, sodium 140 mmol/l, potassium 4.3 mmol/l, calcium 9.78 mg/dl, total proteins 7.1 g/dl, and albumin 48 g/l; coagulation parameters and urinalysis were normal. Also, lactate dehydrogenase (395 U/l), muscle enzymes (creatine phosphate kinase 75 IU/l, CK-MB 10 IU/l), thyroid hormones (free thyroxine 10.98 pmol/l, thyroid-stimulating hormone 1.925 μIU/ml), celiac serology, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpesvirus serology and autoantibodies (ANA, nDNA, ANCA) were normal, and megacolon was excluded using barium enema. After ruling out primary pathologic causes, a neuropsychiatric consultation was requested with the disclosure of continuous aerophagia and anxiety disorder with obsessive compulsive notes and game-playing dependency. It was possible to reassure the family on the absence of an organic gastrointestinal disease with indications to neuropsychiatric and cognitive follow-up.

A 7-year-old girl, affected by autistic spectrum disorder, was admitted to our hospital for abdominal distension and constipation that had started at 2 years of age. A history of severe abdominal distension and bloating was present chronically, especially in the postprandial period until the evening. The chronic constipation was treated with macrogol. The patient's general condition at admission was good, weight was 23 kg and height 121 cm. Physical examination showed excessive air swallowing associated with visible abdominal distension, in the absence of organomegaly, and significant bloating. No abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal symptoms were present. A routine basic metabolic panel was performed with red blood cell count 4.3 × 10⁶/mm³, Hb 11.8 g/dl, white blood cell count 6.5 × 10³/mm³ (neutrophils 44%, lymphocytes 51%, monocytes 3%, eosinophils 2%, basophils 0%), platelets 278 × 10³/mm³, C-reactive protein 0.10 mg/dl, erythrocyte sedimentation rate 7 mm within the first hour, lactate dehydrogenase 518 U/l, glycemia 79 mg/dl, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase 34 IU/l, serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase 19 IU/l, serum gamma-GT 8 IU/l, total proteins 6.6 g/dl and serum iron 56 μg/dl; serum electrolytes, celiac serology, coproculture and a parasitologic examination of stools were negative. Abdominal ultrasound showed increased gas in the small and large bowel without signs of obstruction. Abdominal radiography confirmed distension of the large and small bowel and presence of coprostasis. Anorectal manometry showed a normal recto-anal reflex of 30 ml. Neuropsychiatric consultation pointed out a moderate retardation of psychomotor stages and considered aerophagia as a stereotype symptom. A diagnosis of FA was made with indication of a cognitive-behavioral approach and associated therapy with macrogol, simethicone and otilonium bromide.

Aerophagia involves excessive air swallowing causing progressive abdominal distension. The symptoms in children are a non-distended abdomen in the morning, progressive abdominal distension during the day, visible, often audible, air swallowing and excessive flatus. Resolution of the abdominal distension occurs during the night by absorption of gas and by flatulence [5]. Aerophagia can occur in sudden acute attacks but also chronically. It has been included in the FGID Classification from the Rome II criteria for irritable bowel syndrome and the Rome III Committee Consensus (table 1). Management of the disorder implies a correct diagnosis with a careful history and a minimal number of diagnostic studies to exclude organic disease (malabsorption and intestinal obstruction) [2]. An overlapping of FA with other FGID-like irritable bowel syndrome or constipation can be found. There are no studies about the prevalence of this condition in a pediatric population without mental retardation and the correct diagnosis is missed in most patients. Typical clinical symptoms include progressive abdominal distension and flatus that can be present during the night as a result of increased parasympathomimetic activity during sleeping that causes gastrointestinal motility disorder. Involuntary cricopharyngeal sphincter openings may be presumed to disappear during sleep, resulting in a non-distended abdomen in the morning.

Pathologic childhood aerophagia is defined as a condition of chronic aerophagia associated with gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal and epigastric pain, reduced appetite and burping [3]. FA in healthy patients implies a diagnosis on the basis of the presence of diagnostic clinical criteria combined with a normal physical examination. A careful history and a minimal number of diagnostic studies can exclude organic disease, such as malabsorption or intestinal obstruction. Supplementary investigations should be performed based on case history and physical examination [4] (table 2). The correct diagnosis helps in alleviating anxiety and prevents unnecessary testing, treatments and hospital admission [2]. The most satisfactory diagnostic criteria is abdominal distension that progressively increases during the course of the day (minimum in the early morning and maximum in the late evening, fig. 1), increased flatus during sleep, increased bowel sounds on auscultation of distended abdomen and an abdominal radiograph done in the late afternoon showing an air-distended stomach and increased gas in the small and large bowel without signs of obstruction (fig. 2). In healthy children with high sensitivity and introverted personalities, who present aerophagia as part of a functional disease, the symptoms are precipitated by psychological stress. In a large retrospective analysis of these patients, a high prevalence of anxiety and depression has been found [6]. These findings strongly suggest that aerophagia is a behavioral disorder.

In clinical management, a distinction between primary and secondary aerophagia can help identify different risk profiles for surgical complications or emergency situations. A distinction should be made between patients with aerophagia who have chronic stable symptoms and patients with acute and severe episodes of aerophagia with threatening situations (mainly occurring in mentally disabled patients) [1]. Neuropsychiatric consulting and assessment is always recommended. In our two cases, after clinical evaluation, no organic disorders were identified and a behavioral approach was started, with improvement of symptoms. Speech therapy can be considered a very important approach as it may make the patient conscious of his/her behavior. A diet free of beverages containing gas may help reduce the volume of intra-intestinal gas and alleviate symptoms. In addition, drugs such as simethicone and dimethicone can reduce gas formation in the bowel [7]. The education of the parents in terms of gulping sounds and movements suggestive of air swallowing may be considered an important part of the combined therapy. Finally, a multidisciplinary approach, including good communication with the pediatrician and speech therapist, with strong support and education for the family, is advisable for the correct management of this functional disorder.