Persistent hiccups and vomiting in an adolescent

A hiccup is an involuntary, reflexlike activity that starts with contraction of the diaphragm and is terminated by the abrupt closure of the glottis. Triggers for hiccups can be central or peripheral in origin, and the differential diagnosis for hiccups is broad. Multiple systemic disorders, including gastrointestinal pathology, can cause intractable hiccups. This case focuses on an atypical presentation of a bacterial infection that presented with acute persistent hiccups in an adolescent patient.