Burping – colloquially called belching – (regurgitation; ICD-10-GM R14: Flatulence and related conditions: belching, flatulence, flatulence, meteorism) involves the intermittent regurgitation of gas or even food mush from the stomach toward the mouth.
Common causes of acid regurgitation (gastric juice) or non-acid regurgitation is reflux disease (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the frequent reflux (Latin refluere = to flow back) of acidic gastric juice and other gastric contents into the esophagus (food pipe). Burping, however, can also occur in healthy individuals.
Burping is the (noisy) expulsion of air from the upper digestive tract (mainly from the esophagus and stomach) through the mouth.
One of the causes of burping is increased gas accumulation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. For example, drinking or eating too quickly, often swallowing air along with it (aerophagy), can cause belching. Similarly, drinking carbonated beverages (e.g., mineral water, sparkling wine, sodas) can cause burping, with the expelled gas being carbon dioxide.
Belching can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Course and prognosis: In most cases burping is harmless. Frequently, this is caused by incorrect eating habits. If burping is prolonged or if digested food mush enters the mouth during burping or if foul odors develop, a physician should be consulted to rule out an organic cause.
