Botulism
is a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a toxin made by a bacterium called
Clostridium botulinum.
There
are three main kinds of botulism:
- Foodborne
botulism occurs when a person ingests pre-formed toxin that leads to
illness within a few hours to days. Foodborne botulism is a public health
emergency because the contaminated food may still be available to other
persons besides the patient.
- Infant
botulism occurs in a small number of susceptible infants each year who
harbor C. botulinum in their intestinal tract.
- Wound
botulism occurs when wounds are infected with C. botulinum
that secretes the toxin.
With foodborne
botulism, symptoms begin within 6 hours to 2 weeks (most commonly between
12 and 36 hours) after eating toxin-containing food. Symptoms of botulism
include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech,
difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, muscle weakness that always descends
through the body: first shoulders are affected, then upper arms, lower
arms, thighs, calves, etc. Paralysis of breathing muscles can cause a
person to stop breathing and die, unless assistance with breathing (mechanical
ventilation) is provided.
Botulism
is not spread from one person to another. Foodborne botulism can occur
in all age groups.
A supply
of antitoxin against botulism is maintained by CDC. The antitoxin is effective
in reducing the severity of symptoms if administered early in the course
of the disease. Most patients eventually recover after weeks to months
of supportive care.
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