The man’s case study is being further evaluated. But even when it is shocking, it could be possible for the hiccups to occur, such as when the virus begins to attack the vital organs.
At this point, the presentation of persistent hiccups by the man is labeled as ‘rare’. The reason the hiccups occur is when something blocks the muscle that regulates respiratory function – in this case, the deadly SARS-COV-2 virus.
The hiccups occur when there is a spasm in the diaphragm. Irritation in the diaphragm nerve, which travels from the neck to the diaphragm, causes contractions, which in turn lead to the specific ‘hic’ sound sensation experienced with the hiccups.
It should also be noted that the new coronavirus is already quite deadly to the respiratory system and causes complications such as shortness of breath or breathing difficulties. So the hiccups can be a strange side effect that you should be warned about.
Interestingly, hiccups have also been linked to infections such as the flu and tuberculosis in the past.