Contents:
- What is Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)?
- Symptoms and Causes of Botulism
- How is Botulism Diagnosed?
- How is Botulism Treated?
- What are the Complications or Side Effects of Botulism?
- How Can I Prevent Botulism?
- Conclusion
Botulism
Botulism is a rare but serious illness that attacks your body's nervous system. Types of botulism include foodborne botulism, infant botulism, and wound botulism. It is usually caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Symptoms include muscle weakness and paralysis. Treatment typically involves an antitoxin that prevents the toxin from causing further damage.
Botulism is a serious illness caused by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. The bacteria produce a toxin that can attack your body’s nervous system. If left untreated, botulism can be fatal.
Botulism poisoning poisoning is rare. However, since it can be life-threatening, you should go to the nearest emergency room if you or your child show symptoms of botulism. Symptoms may include drooping eyelids and other signs affecting the muscles of the face, eyes, and throat. In some cases, it can affect the muscles involved in breathing.
Botulism symptoms impact your ability to see, speak, swallow, move, and/or breathe.
What Happens if You Contract Clostridium botulinum?
Clostridium botulinum toxins attack your nerves. This can cause weakness and paralysis of muscles, such as those that help you move, speak, and swallow. If the toxins attack the nerves that control your breathing, it can be fatal.
There are several different types of botulism. The most common types include foodborne botulism, infant botulism, and wound botulism. Iatrogenic botulism and adult intestinal toxemia botulism are other rare forms of the illness.
Foodborne Botulism
Foodborne botulism can occur when you eat food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores. Bacteria can multiply when food is stored improperly. As they grow, they release toxins into the food.
Foodborne botulism commonly occurs with improper home canning or food storage. Though rare, commercially canned food that’s improperly stored can also cause botulism. Other sources of foodborne botulism include:
- Herb-infused oils
- Potatoes baked in aluminum foil
- Canned cheese sauces
- Bottled garlic
- Canned tomatoes
- Carrot juice
- Foods kept warm or left unrefrigerated for too long
Infant Botulism
Infant botulism can occur when a baby ingests Clostridium botulinum spores. When spores reach your baby’s intestines, they grow and release toxins. The source of the spores isn’t always known, but they are commonly found in soil and dust. When soil and dust become airborne, your baby can inhale them.
Spores can also be present in honey. Ingesting botulinum spores doesn’t cause botulism in healthy older children and adults. However, for unknown reasons, toxins are released in infants under 12 months old. Therefore, experts recommend that children shouldn’t consume honey until they are at least one year old.
Wound Botulism
Wound botulism can occur when Clostridium botulinum spores get into a wound. Once inside, the spores can grow and release toxins into the bloodstream.
Wound botulism is most common among people who inject drugs into their veins using needles. In rare cases, it can also develop after surgery or severe injury.
Iatrogenic Botulism
Iatrogenic botulism can occur if you receive too much botulinum toxin (Botox®) through an injection. Botox uses a purified and highly diluted form of Clostridium botulinum. You might receive botulinum toxin treatments for cosmetic reasons, such as to reduce wrinkles, or for medical reasons, such as to treat migraines.
Botox botulism is rare. However, you should only receive botulinum toxin injections from a licensed medical professional who knows the safest and correct amount to administer.
Adult Intestinal Toxemia Botulism
Adult intestinal toxemia botulism, also known as adult intestinal colonization, is a very rare form of botulism that can occur when Clostridium botulinum spores get into your intestines. The spores grow and produce toxins in a way similar to how they do in infants. If you have a severe medical condition affecting your digestive system, you may be more likely to develop this form of botulism.
How Common is Botulism?
Botulism is rare. In 2018, 242 confirmed cases of botulism were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most of these cases were infant botulism.
Symptoms and Causes of Botulism
What Are the Symptoms of Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)?
Symptoms of infant botulism can range from mild to severe. They may appear anywhere from three to 30 days after exposure to Clostridium botulinum spores. Symptoms of infant botulism may include:
- Drooping eyelids (ptosis)
- Loss of facial expression
- Excessive drooling
- Weak cry
- Slow or weak feeding
- Reduced gag reflex
- Constipation
- Weakness or limpness
- Breathing difficulties
In older children and adults, botulism symptoms usually begin in the muscles of the face, eyes, and throat. Without treatment, symptoms may spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms can appear a few hours to several days after ingesting botulinum spores. These symptoms include:
- Drooping eyelids (ptosis)
- Double or blurred vision
- Dry mouth (xerostomia)
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Breathing difficulties
- Weakness or paralysis in the arms or legs
- Nausea and vomiting
What Causes Botulism?
Botulism is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Sometimes, botulism can also be caused by Clostridium butyricum or Clostridium baratii. You can come into contact with the bacterium or its spores without becoming ill. However, under certain conditions, the spores can develop and grow.
These mature bacteria then release toxins. Once released, the toxins quickly spread through the bloodstream and attach to nerves. Botulism occurs when these nerves stop functioning. Conditions that allow spores to develop and grow include:
- Low oxygen levels or lack of oxygen
- Low acidity, sugar, or salt levels
- Inadequate cooking temperatures (even cooking may not destroy the spores)
- Certain levels of water
- Too-high storage temperatures
How Do You Contract Botulism (Clostridium botulinum)?
You can contract Clostridium botulinum from an infected wound or by consuming contaminated food. However, bacteria release toxins that can make you sick if they enter the body through your mouth or a crack in your skin.
Where Is Clostridium botulinum Commonly Found?
Clostridium botulinum spores are commonly found in soil, but they rarely cause illness. Sometimes, the bacteria are found in canned vegetables, fish, or meat. Foods preserved using home canning methods are more likely to be contaminated than those found in grocery stores. Infants under one year old can contract Clostridium botulinum toxins from honey.
How is Botulism Diagnosed (Clostridium botulinum)?
To diagnose botulism, your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination. They will ask about your symptoms and check for weak or paralyzed muscles.
Botulism can resemble symptoms of other conditions, such as stroke, meningitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Therefore, your healthcare provider may need to perform additional tests to confirm the diagnosis of botulism.
What Tests Are Used to Diagnose Botulism?
To confirm a diagnosis of botulism, your healthcare provider may conduct a test that shows the presence of toxins in your blood, stool, or vomit. Suspected food samples can also be tested for toxins.
Other tests your healthcare provider may use include:
- Brain scans
- Spinal fluid examinations
- Tests of nerve and muscle function (electromyography)
Test results may take several days. Therefore, your healthcare provider may begin treatment immediately if botulism is suspected.
How is Botulism (Clostridium botulinum) Treated?
Depending on the cause and severity of your botulism, your healthcare provider may use various treatment options. The most common treatment involves administering a drug called antitoxin. Antitoxins block the activity of the toxin in your bloodstream, preventing further damage. However, antitoxins cannot reverse the damage already done. You may need to stay in the hospital for several weeks or months while you recover.
If you have breathing difficulties, your provider may put you on a ventilator, a machine that helps you breathe. You will stay on the ventilator until any paralysis affecting your breathing subsides.
If you have wound botulism, you may need surgery to remove the contaminated portion of the wound. After surgery, you may take antibiotics to prevent the infection from returning.
Can Botulism Be Cured?
There is no specific cure for botulism, although mild nerve damage may heal. Antitoxins can stop further damage from the toxin.
What Are the Complications or Side Effects of Botulism?
Botulism can paralyze the muscles that help you swallow and breathe. Although antitoxins can help in many cases, some people die from breathing problems and infections. Additionally, health issues that may result from botulism include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Long-term weakness
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Aspiration pneumonia and infection
- Nervous system problems
What Can I Expect After Botulism Treatment?
Depending on the severity of your case, recovery from botulism can take weeks, months, or even years. Most people who receive prompt treatment fully recover in less than two weeks.
How Can I Prevent Botulism?
You can take steps to prevent the most common types of botulism.
Foodborne Botulism:
- Refrigerate food within two hours of cooking. Proper cooling prevents bacteria from producing spores.
- Avoid food from swollen or leaking cans or containers.
- Keep home-canned food for no more than one year.
- Follow canning instructions to make sure food is safe.
- Boil home-canned food for 10 minutes before eating it. Boiling destroys toxins produced by bacteria.
Infant Botulism:
- Avoid feeding honey to children under one year of age.
- Keep your baby away from soil and dust. These substances can contain spores.
Wound Botulism:
- Don’t inject drugs, especially heroin.
- If you have an open wound, keep it clean and watch for signs of infection. Seek medical attention if the wound becomes infected
Conclusion
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Botulism is a serious illness that affects your body’s nervous system and causes muscle weakness and paralysis. Although rare, botulism can be fatal if left untreated. If you or your child show any signs of botulism, contact emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. With prompt medical attention, botulism can be treated effectively.
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