[Diabolic hiccup]

Hiccup is a brief involuntary inspiratory movement followed by glottal closure. Transitory hiccup is usually caused by epigastric irritation. Rarely, hiccup may last for a long time, and is known as diabolic hiccup. A case is described of diabolic hiccup due to a unilateral lesion of nucleus tractus solitarius in the brainstem. This probably resulted in release of inhibition of the hiccup reflex. Therapeutic suggestions in diabolic hiccup are chlorpromazine, baclofen, valproate and nifedipine.