What is botulism?
Botulism is a rare but serious condition caused by toxins from bacteria called Clostridium botulinum.
Three common forms of botulism are:
- Foodborne botulism.
- Wound botulism.
- Infant botulism.
All types of botulism can be fatal and are considered medical emergencies.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Foodborne botulism
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking
- Dry mouth
- Facial weakness on both sides of the face
- Blurred or double vision
- Drooping eyelids
- Trouble breathing
- Nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps
- Paralysis
Wound botulismsymptoms include:
- Difficulty swallowing or speaking
- Facial weakness on both sides of the face
- Blurred or double vision
- Drooping eyelids
- Trouble breathing
- Paralysis
Infant botulism symptoms include:
- Constipation, which is often the first sign
- Floppy movements due to muscle weakness
- Trouble controlling the head
- Weak cry
- Irritability
- Drooling
- Drooping eyelids
- Tiredness
- Difficulty sucking or feeding
- Paralysis
Certain signs and symptoms usually don't occur with botulism. For example, botulism doesn't generally increase blood pressure or heart rate, or cause fever or confusion. Sometimes, however, wound botulism may cause fever.
When to see a doctor
Seek urgent medical care if you suspect that you have botulism. Early treatment increases your chances of survival and lessens your risk of complications.
Seeking medical care promptly may also alert public health authorities. They may then be able to keep other people from eating contaminated food.
Botulism isn't contagious from person to person.
Causes
Foodborne botulism
The source of foodborne botulism is often home-canned foods that are low in acid, such as fruits, vegetables and fish.
Wound botulism
When C. botulinum bacteria get into a wound — possibly caused by an injury you might not notice — they can multiply and produce toxin. In fact, this type of botulism is more common in people who inject black tar heroin.
Infant botulism
Babies get infant botulism after consuming spores of the bacteria, which then grow and multiply in their intestinal tracts and make toxins.
The source of infant botulism may be honey, but it's more likely to be exposure to soil contaminated with the bacteria.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/botulism/symptoms-causes/syc-20370262
