Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Hiccups, a Rare Presentation of Infective Endocarditis: A Case Report

Document Type : Case Report

Authors

Hale Afshar 1
Sina Bakhshaei 2
Masoumeh Kahnooji 3
Mohsen Shafiepour 4
Ahmad Alinaghi Langari 5

1 Assistant Professor of Pulmonary Diseases, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

2 General practitioner, Clinical Research Development Unit, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Assistant Professor of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

4 Assistant Professor of Pulmonary Diseases, Clinical Research Development Unit, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman

5 General practitioner, Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22062/jkmu.2021.91617
Abstract
Hiccup has a wide variety of etiologies irritating the hiccup reflex arc. It is usually benign and self-limited but can be an alarm sign for serious underlying conditions. Hiccup has been rarely reported in patients with infective endocarditis as a result of splenic involvement and phrenic nerve irritation. Herein, we report a 72-year-old man with the chief complaint of long-lasting hiccups (for a 1-month duration) who was diagnosed with infective endocarditis; however, his spleen was grossly intact. The bouts of hiccups repeated 2-3 times a day and lasted for 10-20 minutes. After the initiation of antibiotics, his symptoms waned for a while and appeared again, and then, the hiccups were eliminated. Long-lasting hiccups can be a presentation of serious medical conditions such as infective endocarditis, with or without splenic involvement. Hence, it is important to keep in mind these conditions to perform proper diagnostic and therapeutic workups.

Keywords

Infective Endocarditis
Fever of Unknown Origin
Intractable Hiccups
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Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume 28, Issue 2
March and April 2021
Pages 199-203

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