Hiccups

HOW DO HICCUPS DEVELOP?
The mechanics of hiccups are well known: They result from spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the abdominal organs from the chest cavity) that draw air quickly through the lungs. The accompanying rapid closing of the vocal cords at the top of the larynx produces the characteristic "hic" sound. But what actually starts or causes an attack of normal hiccups is not known.

IS MEDICAL ATTENTION NECESSARY?
Most of the time it isn't. If hiccups last longer than two hours and home remedies fail, however, it is a good idea to call your child's physician. If hiccuping becomes severe and uncontrollable (which can rarely happen), the physician will look for an underlying condition that might be irritating the nerves of the diaphragm; treating such a condition usually will put an end to the hiccups. Rare cases of frequent and prolonged hiccups have been associated with such underlying conditions as pleurisy, pneumonia and disorders of the stomach and esophagus.

WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?
Most hiccups go away by themselves without treatment. If they last more than a few minutes, there are plenty of home remedies to stop them:

• Have the child take small, slow sips from a glass of water.

• Give the child a teaspoon of sugar.

• Have the child breathe into a paper bag for half a minute.

Excerpt from THE DISNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BABY & CHILD CARE, © 1995 DSH Communications, Inc. This material is based on current medical research and, to the best of the editors' knowledge and understanding, is accurate and valid. However the reader should not use information contained in this material to alter a medically prescribed regimen or as a form of self-treatment, without seeking the advice of a licensed physician.