Description
Most humans experience hiccups at some point during their life; however intractable hiccups are seldom experienced. Intractable hiccups may occur in patients with advanced disease such as cancer and can cause major distress. They are considered to have no useful function. There are numerous
causes for hiccups, often multifactorial, that should be sought. If a cause is found then the aim should be to correct it. However a cause is often not found or sometimes cannot be corrected, in which case management should be aimed at resolution of this bothersome symptom by non pharmacological or pharmacological means.
