Botulism Facts

Botulism is a disease with numerous symptoms that culminate with paralysis of the muscles. Its origin is a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Types

• There are three types of botulism. The most common is food-borne botulism, which is caused by eating contaminated food containing the toxin. The second variety is infant botulism, found in a very small number of infants who carry the bacteria in their stomachs. The final type is wound botulism, caused when the bacteria enter a wound.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of food-borne botulism include double and blurred vision, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing and eventually paralysis of the muscles.

Progression of Paralysis

• The first muscles affected by the toxin are those at the top of the body. The paralysis descends, gradually affecting more and more of the body. A typical progression begins with the shoulders and extends slowly down the arms and legs.

Treatment

• Two sets of antitoxins, one that counteracts three varieties of neurotoxins and another that responds to seven, are available to treat the disease. If the toxin paralyzes the muscles used for respiration, a patient will need to be placed on a ventilator. Even with the antitoxins, recovery can take several weeks.

Prevention

• Steps to prevent an outbreak of food-borne botulism include: throwing away canned goods that exhibit bulging or smell strange, following careful safety precautions when home-canning and refrigerating oil that contains any kind of herb infusion.