Belching

Alternative names:

burping; eructation

Definition:

The act of bringing up air from the stomach with a typical sound.

Considerations:

Depending on the cause, belching may change in duration and intensity.

Symptoms such as nausea, dyspepsia, and heartburn may be relieved by belching.

Common causes:

• unconscious swallowing of air
• consumption of gas-producing foods or drinks (such as carbonated beverages)
• chronic cholecystitis
• GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• hiatal hernia
• peptic ulcer

Note: There may be other causes of belching. This list is not all inclusive, and the causes are not presented in order of likelihood. The causes of this symptom can include unlikely diseases and medications. Furthermore, the causes may vary based on age and gender of the affected person, as well as on the specific characteristics of the symptom such as location, quality, time course, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated complaints. Use the Symptom Analysis option to explore the possible explanations for belching, occurring alone or in combination with other problems.