Is eructation the medical term for belching?

Is Eructation the Medical Term for Belching?

Yes, eructation is the formal medical term for belching, defined as an audible escape of air from the esophagus or stomach into the pharynx. 1

Medical Definition and Clinical Context

• Eructation and belching are synonymous terms, with "eructation" being the technical medical terminology used in clinical practice and medical literature, while "belching" is the common lay term for the same phenomenon. 1, 2

• The Rome IV diagnostic criteria formally define belching (eructation) as "an audible escape of air from the esophagus or the stomach into the pharynx." 1

• This physiological process becomes clinically significant and is classified as a disorder when it is bothersome enough to disrupt usual activities and occurs more than 3 days per week. 1

Clinical Significance

• Eructation can be either a normal physiological function or a pathological symptom depending on frequency, severity, and impact on quality of life. 3

• The American Gastroenterological Association recognizes two distinct types of belching (eructation): gastric belching (involuntary, originating from the stomach) and supragastric belching (voluntary, originating from the esophagus). 1, 4

• Excessive eructation affects approximately 1% of the global adult population when using Rome IV criteria for belching disorders, though it occurs in up to 50% of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. 1, 4

Diagnostic Differentiation

• High-resolution esophageal manometry with impedance monitoring can definitively differentiate between gastric belching, supragastric belching, and aerophagia—three distinct conditions that all involve air expulsion but have different mechanisms and treatment approaches. 1, 4