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Hiccups

Last reviewed: 12 Sep 2025
Last updated: 12 Jan 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • "hic" sound
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • duration <48 hours (typically benign hiccups)
  • duration >48 hours (chronic hiccups)
  • persistence during sleep
  • associated features of underlying cause
  • weight loss and malnutrition
Full details

Risk factors

  • aerophagia, temperature changes, and emotional states
  • diaphragmatic and phrenic nerve irritation
  • vagus nerve irritation
  • central nervous system disorders
  • metabolic/electrolyte abnormalities
  • toxins/drugs
  • psychogenic disorders
  • sedation or anesthesia
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • clinical diagnosis
Full details

Tests to consider

  • CBC
  • serum electrolytes
  • BUN
  • C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate
  • liver function tests
  • gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT)
  • serum amylase
  • toxicology screen
  • arterial blood gas
  • ECG
  • chest x-ray
  • pulmonary function tests
  • CT abdomen
  • endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract
  • CT or MRI head
  • lumbar puncture
  • otoscopy
  • pharyngoscopy
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

benign hiccups

ONGOING

chronic hiccups

Contributors

Authors

Aminah Jatoi, MD

Professor of Oncology

Department of Oncology

Mayo Clinic

Rochester

MN

გაფრთხილება:

AJ has received a grant review for Pfizer (money is paid to her institution) and research funding from AstraZeneca. AJ is on an advisory board for Meter Health and Novartis. AJ is an author of one reference cited in this topic.

მადლიერება

Professor Aminah Jatoi would like to gratefully acknowledge Professor Peter Kranke, Dr Yvonne Jelting, and Dr Thomas M. Metterlein, previous contributors to this topic.

გაფრთხილება:

PK is an author of a reference cited in this topic. YJ and TMM declare that they have no competing interests.

რეცენზენტები

Andy Smith, BM, BS, MRCP, FRCA

Consultant Anaesthetist and Associate Director of Research and Development

Director

Lancaster Patient Safety Research Unit

Royal Lancaster Infirmary

Lancaster

UK

გაფრთხილება:

AS declares that he has no competing interests.

Stefan K. Burgdorf, MD

Registrar

Department of Surgical Gastroenterology

Herlev Hospital

University of Copenhagen

Denmark

გაფრთხილება:

SKB declares that he has no competing interests.

Howard Smith, MD, FACP

Academic Director of Pain Management

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology

Department of Anesthesiology

Albany Medical College

Albany

NY

გაფრთხილება:

HS is an author of a reference cited in this topic.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

წყაროები

ჩვენი მტკიცებულებებისა და სარედაქციო ჯგუფები თანამშრომლობენ საერთაშორისო ექსპერტებსა და რეცენზენტებთან, რათა უზრუნველვყოთ თქვენი წვდომა კლინიკურად ყველაზე მნიშვნელოვან ინფორმაციაზე.

ძირითადი სტატიები

Lewis JH. Hiccups: causes and cures. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1985 Dec;7(6):539-52. აბსტრაქტი

Wagner MS, Stapczynski JS. Persistent hiccups. Ann Emerg Med. 1982 Jan;11(1):24-6. აბსტრაქტი

Rousseau P. Hiccups. South Med J. 1995 Feb;88(2):175-81. აბსტრაქტი

Moretto EN, Wee B, Wiffen PJ, et al. Interventions for treating persistent and intractable hiccups in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jan 31;(1):CD008768.სრული ტექსტი  აბსტრაქტი

Zhu LL, Wang WX, Guo XG. Acupuncture for hiccups after stroke: a systematic review. Chin J Evid Based Med. 2011;11:325-8.

გამოყენებული სტატიები

ამ თემაში მოხსენიებული წყაროების სრული სია ხელმისაწვდომია მომხმარებლებისთვის, რომლებსაც აქვთ წვდომა BMJ Best Practice-ის ყველა ნაწილზე.

ამ მასალის გამოყენება ექვემდებარება ჩვენს განცხადებას