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What is botulism? -

Botulism is an illness caused by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum, which produces a toxin that can attack the body’s nervous system.

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The bacteria -

The bacteria that make botulinum toxin can be found naturally in many places, but they don’t often make people sick. For the lethal toxins to be produced, bacteria must grow spores under certain conditions.

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How is the toxin produced? -

The conditions usually involve spaces where there is low or no oxygen, environments with low acid, sugar, and salt, and where the amount of water and the temperature are within a specific range. 

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Infant botulism -

There are five kinds of botulism. One of them is infant botulism, which occurs when the spores get into an infant’s intestines, grow, and then produce the toxin.

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Wound botulism -

Wound botulism can occur if the spores of the bacteria infect a wound and produce a toxin. This may occur in people who suffer traumatic injuries, who undergo surgery, or use intravenous drugs.

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Foodborne botulism -

Foodborne botulism can occur when foods contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores are consumed. This is more recurrent with improperly canned, preserved, or fermented homemade foods.

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Iatrogenic botulism -

This kind of botulism occurs when excessive amounts of the botulinum toxin are injected for cosmetic or medical reasons (i.e. Botox injections).

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Adult intestinal toxemia -

Adult intestinal toxemia, also called adult intestinal colonization botulism, can occur if the spores of the bacteria get into an adult’s intestines, and develop to produce the toxin. The exact reason why people get this kind of botulism remains unknown.

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General symptoms -

There are a number of symptoms associated with most types of botulism (and a few specific to some kinds). General symptoms usually begin in the muscles of the face, eyes, and throat. These may include difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, and slurred speech.

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General symptoms -

Other symptoms include blurry vision, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulty moving the eyes.

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Symptoms of foodborne botulism -

Symptoms of foodborne botulism usually begin 18 to 36 hours after consuming a contaminated food and can include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

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Symptoms of infant botulism -

Symptoms of infant botulism can develop 3 to 30 days after exposure to the toxin, and may include drooping eyelids (ptosis), loss of facial expression, drooling, weakened cry, slow or poor feeding, reduced gag reflex, constipation, weakness or floppiness, and difficulty breathing.

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Word of caution -

It’s important to stress that people with botulism might not experience all the aforementioned symptoms at the same time, so when in doubt, the person should be taken to the hospital immediately.

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Diagnosis -

Diagnosing botulism may require a number of tests, including a brain scan and a spinal fluid exam, as well as nerve and muscle function tests. A Tensilon test may also be conducted.

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Treatment -

Botulism is treated with a drug called antitoxin. This drug prevents the toxin from causing any more damage. However, it won’t repair what damage has already been done.

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Treatment -

Severe botulism can cause paralysis of the lungs. If this occurs, patients are put on a breathing machine (ventilator).

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Treatment -

In the case of wound botulism, surgery to remove the contaminated tissues of the wound may be required.

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Possible complications -

Botulism can paralyze muscles that are involved in functions such as breathing or swallowing, so some complications may occur, including extreme tiredness (fatigue), shortness of breath, and long-term weakness.

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Possible complications -

Other complications may include aspiration pneumonia and infection, as well as nervous system issues.

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How long will it take to recover? -

Recovery can take anywhere from a few weeks to months or even years. It will all depend on the severity of the case. People who are treated promptly usually recover in a shorter time frame (e.g. a few weeks).

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Prevention: foodborne botulism -

There are a few steps you can take to prevent some types of botulism. With regards to foodborne botulism, you can pay special attention to most common sources of home-canning related botulism cases. These are low-acid foods such as potatoes, corn, green beans, asparagus, and beets.

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Prevention: foodborne botulism -

You can prevent this by ensuring foods are cooked thoroughly and refrigerated within two hours of cooking.

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Prevention: foodborne botulism -

Beware of food containers that appear bulging or damaged, as this may be a sign of bacterial gas, and never consume any preserved foods that don’t smell okay.

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Prevention: infant botulism -

Bacteria can be found in soil and dust, so infant botulism is virtually impossible to prevent (even when all surfaces are clean). You can, however, avoid giving honey to babies under one year old, as honey can contain the said bacteria.

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Prevention: wound botulism -

Wounds contaminated with dirt and soil should be cleaned thoroughly. Beware of any signs of infection and seek medical care.

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Prevention: Iatrogenic botulism -

Only get injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) by licensed practitioners. Several cases of counterfeit or mishandled injections have been reported, so it’s important to seek licensed professionals to administer these, whether you’re getting them for medical or cosmetic reasons.

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Who’s at risk? -

Botulism is rare but some people are more at risk of getting it, including those who use injectable drugs and people who make their own alcohol, like wine made in prison, known as “pruno” or “hooch.”

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Who’s at risk? -

People who consume home-canned or home-fermented foods are also at a higher risk of developing botulism.

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Who’s at risk? -

And so are those who get botulinum toxin (Botox) injections for cosmetic or medical reasons.

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Outlook -

Botulism can be treated with immediate medical care. Left untreated, it can be fatal, so it’s important to seek medical assistance if there are any signs of the illness.

Sources: (CDC) (Mayo Clinic) (Cleveland Clinic) (NHS) (WHO)

See also: Celebrities who regret their plastic surgery and other aesthetic procedures

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