[Persistent hiccup: causes, diagnosis and treatment]

Abstract

Hiccup is a common phenomenon produced by the activation of a primitive reflex, which has its own center in the central nervous system. Most episodes last only a few minutes and are self-limited, but hiccup can get persistent and become a real problem for physician and patient alike. The center of hiccup may be activated by a great variety of stimuli travelling along different nerve path ways and bring different effector responses. Causes of hiccup are various and merit a systematic study of any patient with persistent hiccup.