Causes of Hiccups
List of causes of Hiccups
Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions
(see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Hiccups)
that could possibly cause Hiccups includes:
More causes:
see full list of causes for Hiccups
Causes of Hiccups (Diseases Database):
The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Hiccups
that are listed by the Diseases Database:
Source: Diseases Database
Hiccups Causes: Book Excerpts
Hiccups as a symptom:
Conditions listing Hiccups
as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Hiccups.
Our database lists the following as having
Hiccups as a symptom of that condition:
Medications or substances causing Hiccups:
The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible
causes of Hiccups as a symptom.
This list is incomplete and various other drugs or substances
may cause your symptoms.
Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using,
including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.
See full list of 83
medications causing Hiccups
What triggers Hiccups?
The following conditions are listed as possible triggers
for Hiccups:
Related information on causes of Hiccups:
As with all medical conditions,
there may be many causal factors.
Further relevant information on causes of Hiccups may be found in:
Causes of Hiccups: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the causes of Hiccups.
Breath Sounds (Decreased):
Differential Diagnosis
(In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
Decreased airflow through respiratory tree
-
Airway obstruction
–Aspirated foreign body
–Asthma
–Bronchitis
–Bronchiolitis
–Croup
–Epiglottitis
–Neoplasm
–Goiter
-
Alveolar or interstitial processes
–Pulmonary edema
–Pneumonia
–Pleurisy
–Sarcoidosis
-
Decreased lung expansion
–Atelectasis
–COPD or emphysema
–Bronchiectasis
–Kyphosis or scoliosis
–Increased abdominal girth (e.g., ascites,
obesity, pregnancy)
–Pulmonary fibrosis
–Diaphragmatic paralysis
–Abdominal, chest wall, or pleuritic pain
Obstructed transmission of sound
-
Obesity
-
Pleural effusion
-
Pneumothorax, hemothorax, or chylothorax
-
Pleural thickening
-
Large pulmonary embolus
-
Less common etiologies (“zebras”) include cystic fibrosis, alveolar hemorrhage, BOOP, now called COP, pneumonectomy (postsurgical), systemic lupus erythematosus, vocal cord paralysis, vocal cord dyskinesia, and psychogenic
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: In a Page: Signs and Symptoms, 2004
Hiccups [Singultus]:
Medical causes
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Abdominal distention
The most common cause of hiccups, abdominal distention also causes a feeling of fullness and, depending on the cause, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Brain stem lesion
Producing persistent hiccups, this type of lesion causes decreased level of consciousness, dysphagia, dysarthria, an absent corneal reflex on the side opposite the lesion, altered respiratory pattern, abnormal pupillary response, and ocular deviation.
Gastric cancer
Persistent hiccups can be the presenting sign of this disease, which may be accompanied by dyspepsia, abdominal pain, anorexia, early satiety, and weight loss.
Gastric dilation
Besides hiccups, possible signs and symptoms include a sense of fullness, epigastric pain, and regurgitation or persistent vomiting.
Gastritis
This disorder can cause hiccups along with mild epigastric discomfort (sometimes the only symptom). The patient may develop upper abdominal pain, eructation, fever, malaise, nausea, vomiting, hematemesis, and melena.
Increased intracranial pressure
Early findings may include hiccups, drowsiness, and headache. Classic later signs include changes in pupillary reactions and respiratory pattern, increased systolic pressure, and bradycardia.
Pancreatitis
Hiccups, vomiting, and sudden and steady epigastric pain (often radiating to the back) may occur in this disorder. A severe attack may cause persistent vomiting, extreme restlessness, fever, and abdominal tenderness and rigidity.
Pleural irritation
Besides hiccups, this condition may cause cough, dyspnea, or chest pain.
Renal failure
Hiccups may occur in the late stages of both chronic and acute renal failure. Associated signs and symptoms affect every body system and include fatigue, oliguria or anuria, nausea, vomiting, confusion, yellow-brown or bronze skin, uremic frost, ammonia breath odor, bleeding tendencies, gum ulcerations, asterixis, and Kussmaul’s respirations.
Other causes
Surgery
Mild and transient attacks of hiccups occasionally follow abdominal surgery.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Hiccup:
Differential Overview
(Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis)
❑ Benign
❑ Drugs
❑ Vagal stimulation
❑ Post-operative
❑ Pneumonia
❑ Liver metastasis
❑ Lung cancer
❑ Esophageal cancer
❑ Subdiaphragmatic abscess
❑ Pericarditis
❑ Uremia
❑ Central
❑ Hysterical
❑ Splenic infarction
❑ Thoracic aortic aneurysm
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Field Guide to Bedside Diagnosis, 2007
Hiccups:
Hiccups - pathophysiology
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
- A hiccup reflex arc has been postulated, although the exact anatomic mechanism remains unknown. The arc consists of:
- The afferent limb: Phrenic and vagus nerves, the pharyngeal plexus from C2 to C4, and the thoracic sympathetic chain from T6 to T12
- The efferent limb: Phrenic nerve to the diaphragm and the external intercostal nerves to the intercostal muscles
- A central connection: A nonspecific location incorporating the medulla but independent of the respiratory center, the hypothalamus, and the phrenic nerve nuclei
- Hiccups have negligible effect on ventilation and usually involve only unilateral diaphragmatic contraction, most frequently on the left.
- Hiccups serve no respiratory function, despite activation of inspiratory musculature far more than during normal respiration.
Hiccups - etiology
- Bouts may be precipitated by a number of benign causes including:
- Gastric distention:
- Aerophagia
- Ingestion of excessive food, carbonated beverages, or alcohol
- Gastric insufflation during endoscopy
- Changes in the ambient or gastrointestinal temperature:
- Cold showers
- Ingestion of hot or cold beverages
- Moving from cold to hot environment, or vice versa
- Sudden excitement or stress
- Tobacco use
- Persistent and intractable hiccups have many causes, which can be characterized as psychogenic, organic, or idiopathic:
- Psychogenic:
- Stress
- Conversion reactions
- Anorexia nervosa
- Malingering
- Personality disorders
- Organic:
- CNS disorders: Ventriculoperitoneal shunts, hydrocephalus, arteriovenous malformations, stroke, temporal arteritis, CNS trauma, encephalitis, meningitis, brain abscess
- Peripheral nervous system disturbances: Irritation of the phrenic or vagus nerve from a variety of causes, including goiter, tumors or cysts of the neck, hiatal hernia, esophagitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, pericarditis, peptic ulcer disease, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, appendicitis, cholecystitis, and renal and hepatic disorders (stones or infections)
- Infectious causes: Sepsis, influenza, herpes zoster, malaria, and tuberculosis
- Metabolic or pharmacologic causes: Anesthesia, methylprednisolone, barbiturates, diazepam, methyldopa, uremia, hypocalcemia, and hyponatremia
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
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