Hello,
Thanks for posting on HCM
Most hiccups usually occur spontaneously with no particular cause as a result of spasm that contracts the diaphragm.
What causes hiccups?
A very full stomach can cause bouts of hiccups that go away on their own. A full stomach can be caused by:
- Eating too much food too quickly
- Swallowing too much air
- Eating certain types of food ( specific for each individual, the milk might be the cause)
- A sudden change in stomach temperature, such as drinking a hot beverage and then a
cold beverage.
- Emotional
stress or excitement.
What to do, try not giving the milk for a couple of hours. Some antiemetic drugs such as metopimazine (brand name: vogalene) could be used to subdue the hiccup if persisting. Ice cold water can also be helpful ( but i will not advise for a 20 month old).
Hiccups usually stop within a few minutes to a few hours (untreated). If lasting more than 24hours, please go to ER.
Hope this helps
Dr Nsah