Hiccups: An Atypical Manifestation of Miliary Tuberculosis and Myocardial Ischemia.

Hiccups are a benign, self-limiting condition caused by intermittent spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm. However, its persistence may be indicative of a more ominous underlying condition, and its manifestation is seen in myocardial ischemia/infarction and tuberculosis (TB). We present two unique cases where persistent hiccups lead to the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis in one patient and myocardial infarction in the other. It stresses the importance that such a benign presentation may be a warning for a more sinister pathology and thus requires extensive work-up in high-risk and senior individuals.