Gastric vs. supragastric belching, singultus, aerophagia, and differential diagnoses : An interdisciplinary perspective for otorhinolaryngologists

Abstract

Belching is the act of expelling air from the stomach or esophagus into the pharynx. Although the process is regarded as physiological, excessive belching might be associated with asignificant burden for affected patients in the sense of abelching disorder. Diagnosis of abelching disorder is often challenging, and its differentiation from other conditions such as rumination syndrome, singultus, or aerophagia can be difficult. Treatment of these disorders also represents a challenge for otorhinolaryngologists. Hence, the aim of this review is to provide an interdisciplinary overview of these clinical syndromes and provide practical guidance for their diagnosis and treatment.