Chronic hiccups

Other Names: Intractable singultus; Intractable hiccups; Persistent hiccups; Hiccups, intractable

Chronic hiccups are unintentional movements (spasms) of the diaphragm followed by rapid closure of the vocal cords that persist for an extended period of time. Hiccups often develop for no apparent reason and typically go away on their own after a couple minutes. However, chronic hiccups last over two days and in rare cases, may continue for over a month. Hiccups that recur over long periods of time are also considered "chronic." Depending on how long the hiccups last, affected people may become exhausted, dehydrated and/or lose weight due to interruptions in sleep and normal eating patterns.

Cause

Although the exact underlying cause of chronic hiccups is often unknown, many factors can contribute to the development of hiccups. For example, common triggers for hiccups include hot or spicy foods and liquids; harmful fumes; surgery; and/or certain medications. Chronic hiccups can also be associated with a variety of health problems including:

• Pneumonia, pleurisy and other conditions that irritate the diaphragm
• Brain abnormalities (i.e. strokes, tumors, injuries, infections)
• Metabolic disorders
• Gastrointestinal (esophagus, stomach, small/large intestines) diseases
• Psychological problems such as hysteria, shock, fear, and personality disorders
• Liver abnormalities
• Kidney disorders

Inheritance

Chronic hiccups are not thought to be inherited. Most cases occur sporadically in people with no family history of the condition.

Signs and symptoms

Hiccups that recur over long periods of time are also considered "chronic." Depending on how long the hiccups last, affected people may become exhausted, dehydrated and/or lose weight due to interruptions in sleep and normal eating patterns. Other complications may include irregular heart beat and gastroesophageal reflux.

For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. 80%-99% of people have these symptoms

• Recurrent singultus(Recurrent hiccup)

30%-79% of people have these symptoms

• Abnormal eating behavior
• Abnormality of the diaphragm(Diaphragm issues)
• Dehydration
• Depressivity(Depression)
• Malnutrition
• Sleep disturbance(Difficulty sleeping)
• Weight loss

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of chronic hiccups is usually obvious based on symptoms. However, a complete physical exam with various laboratory tests and imaging studies (i.e. chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, and/or fluoroscopy of the diaphragm) may be performed to determine the underlying cause.

Treatment

Treatment for chronic hiccups often varies based on the underlying cause. In many cases, medications can be prescribed to treat chronic hiccups. These may include:

• Tranquilizers such as chlorpromazine and haloperidol
• Muscle relaxants
• Anticonvulsant agents including phenytoin, valproic acid, and carbamazepine
• Sedatives
• Pain medications
• Stimulants

Prognosis

The long-term outlook (prognosis) for people with chronic hiccups depends on the cause. Chronic hiccups are often associated with underlying medical conditions that vary in severity.[2] Depending on how long the hiccups last, affected people may experience the following complications regardless of the underlying cause:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Exhaustion
• Dehydration
• Weight loss

NIH genetic and rare disease info

• NIH info on Chronic hiccups

Chronic hiccups is a rare disease.

Chronic hiccups Resources
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