ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the medical condition hiccup. Hiccups are caused by spasms of the diaphragm leading to a sudden intake of breath, which is cut off when the vocal cords close quickly, causing the characteristic sound which gives rise to their onomatopoeic name. Hiccups serve no known function, have no single reliable treatment and can be very exhausting for the patient, especially as they can persist for several days. Diaphragmatic spasm due to diaphragmatic irritation results in hiccups. The diaphragmatic irritation is often caused by gastric distension or liver enlargement, the diaphragmatic irritation being stimulated by involvement of two main nerve pathways, namely the vagus nerve and the phrenic nerve. Treatment of hiccup can be unsuccessful, and no single treatment can be guaranteed.
