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Hiccups - Management
Basis for recommendation
Referral
- CKS recommends referral of people with prolonged hiccups because:
- Prolonged duration of hiccups often indicates an underlying disease process or injury [Launois et al, 1993; Schuchmann and Browne, 2007]. In a retrospective study, hiccups lasting more than 48 hours were more likely to be associated with an organic or anatomic cause [Cymet, 2002].
- Prolonged hiccups can cause a number of complications, including insomnia, depression, weight loss, wound dehiscence, and exhaustion [Launois et al, 1993].
- Regarding choice of specialist, CKS advises clinical judgement based on the assessment findings because of the wide range of conditions which may cause hiccups.
Physical manoeuvres
Drug treatment
- Drug treatment is suggested as an option because hiccups are a disabling symptom that can cause a number of complications, and are unlikely to resolve spontaneously if the episode has a duration of more than a week [Launois et al, 1993].
- Review articles suggest that for people in whom the cause cannot be identified or treated, general measures and empiric treatments may be necessary [Rousseau, 1995; Smith and Busracamwongs, 2003].
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