Title:Persistent Hiccups as an Atypical Initial Presentation of COVID-19: A
Case Report
Volume: 22
Issue: 1
Author(s): Omid Dadras*, Alimohamad Asghari and Atefe Nosratzahi
Affiliation:
- School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Keywords:
Hiccups, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, symptom, global pandemic.
Abstract:
Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that causes acute respiratory syndrome
in humans. It is also known as COVID-19 and was first discovered in Wuhan, Hubei Province in China
in December 2019 and soon became a global pandemic. The common symptoms of COVID-19 include
fever, fatigue, and dry cough; however, there are some atypical symptoms that remain either unreported
or underreported.
Case Summary: In this case report, we described a 48-year-old diabetic man who presented with the
chief complaint of persistent hiccups (<48h) to the emergency room with no history of malignancy, GI,
cardiovascular, or neurological diseases. The patient also mentioned intermittent cough and mild dyspnea
initiated the morning of admission day. On physical examination, other than mild tachycardia and
tachypnea, there were no notable findings. Following an abnormal chest X-Ray, a chest CT scan was
carried out, and peripheral ground-glass opacities along with scattered round opacities were identified
in both lungs’ fields. Given the strong suspicion of COVID-19, an RT-PCR test was performed, and
the symptomatic treatment was initiated. The patient was diagnosed with COVID-19 following the
PCR result release. The treatment was initiated per the protocol, and the patient was transferred to the
isolated room and discharged after four days following the relief of the symptoms.
Conclusion: It is critical for medical practitioners to seriously consider the possibility of COVID-19 in
a patient with similar presentations and isolate the patient at the asymptomatic stages to eliminate the
possibility of virus transmission.
