How Botox changed the life of a man who could not burp for 52 years
Injecting botulinum toxin into the oesophageal sphincter relaxes the muscle, enabling burping.
In 2026, Daryl, a 52-year-old cybersecurity executive, learned how to burp after living his entire life without being able to do so. The buildup of gas in his body caused him significant bloating, discomfort, excessive flatulence, and pain, leading him to self-induce vomiting to relieve the pressure. Despite visiting numerous GPs and specialists, including endoscopies and colonoscopies, Daryl was unable to find any serious underlying conditions or a definitive diagnosis beyond GERD and IBS, for which he was prescribed medications that did not alleviate his symptoms.
It wasn't until he discovered retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (RCPD) online that he sought a specialist's opinion. RCPD, also known as "no-burp syndrome," is a rare condition where the reflex that allows humans to burp is absent or underdeveloped. Leong Zhou Hao, a specialist in ear, nose, and throat disorders at Singapore General Hospital, diagnosed Daryl with RCPD and explained that the condition is often underdiagnosed due to its recent identification in 2019.
The treatment for RCPD involves injecting botulinum toxin, or Botox, into the sphincter muscle in the esophagus to relax it and allow the patient to burp. Daryl underwent the procedure under general anesthesia, and six months later, he continues to burp comfortably without experiencing pain or bloating.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
