PERSISTENT HICCUPS COULD BE A NEW SYMPTOM OF CORONAVIRUS, DOCTORS WARN

 Mirror 8 August 2020 - by Danya Bazaraa

© Getty Images/EyeEm Most people get hiccups sometimes (file photo)

Doctors are warning persistent hiccups could be a possible new symptom of coronavirus.

A report published in the American Journal of Emergency medicine describes the case of a man who tested positive for the deadly disease after having hiccups for four days.

The 62-year-old, from Chicago, had initially showed no other symptoms.

He was admitted to hospital and when he had his temperature checked it was 37.3C.

But a scan on his lungs showed indications that he was struggling with his lung capacity.

The man was put in an isolation room where he was tested for coronavirus.

His temperature later increased to 38.4C.

© US National Library of Medicine An image showing the scan of the patient's lungs

The report stated: "Here we present a case of persistent hiccups as the presenting symptom of a Covid-19 infection in a 62-year-old man.

"To our knowledge, this is the first case report of persistent hiccups as the presenting complaint in a Covid-19 positive patient in emergency medicine literature."

The doctors from Cook County Health, Chicago, said patients with hiccups should not be dismissed, the Sun reports.

They added: "Physicians should keep Covid-19 infection on their differential as more cases are discovered through atypical presentations."

The NHS states the official symptoms of Covid-19 as a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

The NHS says that most people get hiccups sometimes but they should only last a few minutes.

You can usually wait for them to go away or treat them yourself without seeing a GP.

They are usually brought on by stress, strong emotions such as excitement, and eating and drinking.