By Oluseye Ojo
Hiccups, known as ‘esuke’ in Yoruba, ‘uchuchuru’ in Igbo, and ‘shakuwa’ or ‘shaquwa’ in Hausa, are health conditions that a lot of people take with levity.
According to experts, hiccups can be described as involuntary spasms of the diaphragm, usually short-lived and not a sign of something serious.
But hiccups gained popular attention when a popular comic actor in the Yoruba segment of Nollywood, Tolani Oyebamiji, fondly called Sisi Quadri, died on Friday March 1, 2024, and was buried in his hometown in the Agbowo area of Iwo in Osun State.
After his death, his brother Muktar Oyebamiji, revealed how the actor died. One of the things he mentioned was that Sisi Quadri was treated for hiccups, but he was referred to a teaching hospital when his condition did not improve.
Muktar said; “On 28 February, he began feeling unwell again. We immediately took him to a hospital, where he was treated for hiccups. But when the treatment yielded no result, we were referred to Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital for further treatment on hiccups. We obtained a referral letter and left.”
Saturday Sun embarked on a fact-finding mission to dig deep into the causes, symptoms, myths, and other factors surrounding hiccups.
It was gathered that medical experts believe that there is still no proven treatment for hiccups, but breathing into a paper bag, holding of breath, sipping cold water or gargling with ice water may be worth trying.
Research has shown that the most common triggers for hiccups that last less than 48 hours include: drinking carbonated beverages, drinking too much alcohol, eating too much, being excited or under emotional stress, experiencing sudden temperature changes, and swallowing air, such as when chewing gum or smoking.
In some traditional practices in Nigeria, it is believed that hiccups should be treated in adults through drinking of water, and by placing a tiny thread of clothing on the fontanelle of a baby (the soft spot on a baby’s head where the skull bones haven’t finished growing and fusing together).
Findings from Ibadan in the South-West, Benin City in the South South, South East and Northern parts of the country revealed that the cultural practices of treating hiccups are perhaps the same.
A mother of six children, Mrs Olunike Olalere, told Saturday Sun: “I don’t attach any importance to hiccups. If I have hiccups, I will just get water and drink, and it will stop. I have been doing this for more than 50 years. Also, I know many people that have been doing this.
“Then, when I was a nursing mother, I also practised what I grew up to know. W hen babies have hiccups. I would either breastfeed the baby or put a small thread of clothing on his or her head, and the hiccups would stop. I cannot explain how it works, but it may have to do with the belief system. So, to me, there is nothing serious about hiccups.”
An Igbo man, Elder Joseph Okwuofu, also said the Igbo do not attach importance to hiccups because it can be treated easily. Said he: “Traditionally, hiccups can come at anytime and we treat it with water and a thread.
“If the person that has hiccups is an adult, he just needs to drink water and it will go. But if it is an infant, the practice has always been that we would put a thread of clothing on the baby’s fontanelle and the hiccups would stop.
“It is a traditional belief and it has worked for people that had practised it. But I cannot explain, whether the practice of putting a thread on infants’ heads has been working or it is just a coincidence.”
A Yoruba traditionalist, Shina Akinpelu also said: “Ordinarily, hiccups alone cannot lead to death. If it leads to death, then it is our belief that it must have come from witches and wizards or from the metaphysical world.
“Again, we have a popular saying in Yoruba, that ‘Ma je ki esuke wo rara’ meaning don’t let hiccups become a rara chant. In this case, Rara does not refer to a typical Yoruba poetry, but a borrowed word, which refers to something dangerous. When the issue of hiccups is getting out of hand, the person having it would be advised to find a solution before it is too late. It means the hiccups have underlying health conditions, which must be treated promptly.
“We can use water to treat hiccups for adults. If it is a baby, we can put a thread on his or her fontanelle, and still be rubbing the baby’s back. We can also pour water on the big toe (hallux) of the person that has hiccups. These have been working for us.”
A northerner, Alhaji Mohammed Dankasa, who lives at Sabo, Mokola, Ibadan, also spoke to Saturday Sun on the treatment for hiccups in Hausa culture.
He said: “What we do is to give water to the person who has hiccups, if he or she is an adult. If the person is a baby less than one year, we can put a thread on his or her head. We can give the baby small water.
“But if the hiccups refused to stop after doing all these, we would use the mouth to blow the baby’s fontanelle and at the same time gently beat the baby’s chest. Before long, the baby can vomit and may not. The hiccups will stop. These have been working for us.”
In the same vein, Mr. David Obayagbona, a resident and indigene of Benin- City in Edo State, also stated that water is usually used to treat hiccups in adults. He noted also that a thread might be placed on the baby’s fontanelle, according to the Benin culture.
Meanwhile, a former Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Oyo State Branch, Ayotunde Fasunla, who is a Professor of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, and Consultant ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Surgeon, x-rayed hiccups and gave advice to people on the health condition.
His words: “Generally, hiccups are a physiological reflex like other reflexes such as sneezing, flatulence, and so on.
“Both children and adults can have hiccups. Newborns also have hiccups a lot, and sometimes they have subtle seizures that mimic hiccups.
“In most cases, it is idiopathic (the cause is unknown), but a few might be seen as side effects of medications or in patients with chronic medical conditions like cancer, chronic kidney disease, or chronic liver disease.
“Hiccups are usually harmless and resolve by themselves within a few minutes for most people.
“In adults with prolonged hiccups, the underlying cause should be sought, and metoclopromide has been shown to alleviate it. The use of this medication is not a standard practice for children.
“Changes in body position or posture, distraction techniques, and drinking water have been proven to reduce the duration or stop the hiccups.”
But can hiccups lead to death? He answered: “Hiccups, on their own, should not lead to death. However, the causes of hiccups, such as chronic kidney disease, metabolic disorder, dehydration, and so on, if not taken care of, can eventually cause death.
“Sometimes, hiccups may lead to aspiration, especially in infants or unconscious individuals, which can cause chest inflammation. If this is not well managed, it can lead to serious health problems and, eventually, death. However, on its own, it cannot cause death.”
Fasunla also answered a question on things to worry about if person has hiccups saying: “Yes. Prolonged hiccups should be investigated. The cause of the hiccups should be identified and treated. Some worrisome causes of hiccups include chronic kidney failure, chronic liver failure, metabolic derangement, severe dehydration, cancer and so on.”
But what about the myth that when a baby has hiccups, a thread should just be placed on his or her head, and the hiccups would stop? In his response, Fasunla said: “There is no scientific basis for the myth.”
Saturday Sun also asked him about habits that can cause hiccups and he explained that inadequate intake of water, swallowing air, or excessive intake of alcohol are parts of habits that cause hiccups.
Nevertheless, when he was asked about how expensive the medical management of hiccups is, he answered by saying that “the cost of treatment depends on the cause. It should also be noted that the majority of cases can abate or even disappear without treatment.
Fasunla also counselled people on how to prevent hiccups. He stated: “My advice to prevent hiccups include adequate water intake, stop or reduce alcohol intake, avoid things that can cause liver and kidney failure, and schedule regular medical checkups. If you develop hiccups, consult your doctor immediately.”