Environmental degradation and its relationship with the development of globus pharyngeus in residents of Aba Town in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if stress and environmental factors aid or trigger the development of globus pharyngeus in populations. The work is a 2-year retrospective study in which case files of patients presenting with symptoms of globus pharyngeus at two different health facilities in two different cities -Aba and Umuahia, in Abia State, Nigeria, between February 2012 and February 2014, were studied and compared. The comparison was based on the environmental status of the cities; particularly infrastructure maintenance and environmental cleanliness. These parameters were then used to elicit whether stress and/or environmental degradation, had a major role in the development of globus pharyngeus. The results indicated that stress and environmental degradation, contributed significantly to the development of globus pharyngeus; suggesting the need for action in this regard, by governments and relevant governmental agencies saddled with the task of guaranteeing overall public safety and health.

Keywords: Globus, Dysphagia, Odynophagia, Environmental degradation, Stress