Belching

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Treatment

Belching

Alternative Names:

Burping; Eructation; Gas - belching

Home Care:

Relief may be obtained by lying on the side or in a knee-chest position until the gas passes.

Avoid chewing gum, eating quickly, and eating gas-producing foods and beverages.

Call your health care provider if:

Call a health care provider if the belching is persistent and unexplained, or if it is accompanied by other symptoms.

Note: This is usually a minor symptom, and often quite insignificant.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Your doctor will examine you and ask questions such as:

Is this the first time that this has occurred?
Is there a pattern to occurrences?
- Does it occur when the person is nervous?
- Does it occur after certain foods or beverages?
What other symptoms are present?
- Is there vomiting?
- Is there abdominal pain?
- Is there heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth?

Diagnostic tests will be determined by the findings of physical examination and by what additional signs or symptoms, if any, accompany the belching.

After seeing your health care provider:

If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider of the cause of persistent belching, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.

Review Date: 1/23/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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