COVID-19 presenting as persistent hiccups: a case report

• Autor(a) principal: Sene, Diogo Ribeiro de
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Watashi, Diego Moreno, Bilitardo, Isabella de Oliveira, Moreno, Carlos Eduardo Campos, Moreno, Mariella Freire de Freitas
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo
• Texto Completo: https://www.revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/190781
• topic: COVID-19; Hiccups; SARS-CoV-2; Chlorpromazine; Atypical presentation

Hiccups are involuntary, spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles and can be classified as acute (< 48 h), persistent (48 h to a month) or intractable (> 1 month). A previously healthy 29-year-old man sought the Emergency Department with flu-like symptoms and a two-day history of persistent hiccups. His physical examination was otherwise unremarkable and vital signs were within normal limits. An unenhanced computed tomography scan of the chest showed small focal ground-glass opacities scattered throughout 25% of the lungs. A COVID-19 test was positive. Chlorpromazine was prescribed for the hiccups with improvement over 10 h. The patient was discharged home on the same day without hiccups and no other complications.