IDCases (Jan 2021)

Hiccups as a specific neurological manifestation in males with COVID-19

  • Aya Nakaya,
  • Eiji Ogura,
  • Yuki Katayama,
  • Masami Yoshii,
  • Eiko Yoshino,
  • Kazuya Hozumi,
  • Saori Tago,
  • Yuko Teranishi,
  • Yuki Minamibashi,
  • Makiko Harada,
  • Mami Yoshioka,
  • Yuri Kawano,
  • Yuka Arai,
  • Keno Yoshida,
  • Shozo Shimizu,
  • Kazuma Ogura,
  • Katsuaki Iwashita

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26
p. e01330

Abstract

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Several clinical manifestations of COVID-19 have been reported in the literature since then. In addition to upper respiratory symptoms, dysgeusia and anosmia are relatively common neurological manifestations with COVID-19. We had five cases of hiccups in succession; therefore, we assume that hiccups might be a specific symptom of COVID-19. We retrospectively analyzed 46 patients with COVID-19 diagnosed from February 2021 to May 2021. Among the 46 patients, 5 developed hiccups (11%). All patients were male. The median age of was 56 years. None of the patients were smokers. Further, all patients exhibited pneumonia without dysgeusia or anosmia. The median onset of hiccups was 5 days after diagnosis, with a median duration of 2 days. All patients recovered from hiccups and COVID-19. Hiccups might be a specific neurological symptom in male patients with COVID-19.

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