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Communicable Disease Fact Sheet
Botulism
What is
botulism?
Symptoms
How is it spread?
Diagnosis and treatment
Prevention
What is botulism?
Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness
caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
There are three main kinds of botulism: foodborne, wound, and infant.
All forms of botulism can be fatal and are considered medical emergencies.
This fact sheet will deal with foodborne botulism which can be especially
dangerous because many people can be poisoned by eating a contaminated food.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually begin 18 to 36 hours a after
eating a contaminated food but they can occur as early as 6 hours or as late as
10 days. Symptoms include:
 | blurred vision
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| double vision |
| dry mouth
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| difficulty swallowing |
| slurred speech |
| muscle weakness |
| drooping eyelids |
How is it spread?
| Clostridium botulinum
spores are common in the soil and can often be found
on agricultural products. |
| Poorly prepared, home
canned vegetables and fruits are the most common
source. Toxins are formed when foods are inadequately heated during canning.
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| Illnesses have also occurred
with commercial products such as potpies, baked potatoes, and sautéed onions
and cured foods in airtight packaging. |
| Honey
can be a source of botulism for infants because honey often contains
Clostridium botulinum spores. |
Diagnosis
and treatment
| The bacteria can be cultured
from the stool (feces), but diagnosis is usually made by identifying the toxin
in blood, stool or suspected food. |
| Requires immediate
medical attention. |
| If diagnosed early, foodborne
botulism can be treated with an antitoxin which blocks the action of toxin
circulating in the blood. |
| Good supportive care in a
hospital is the mainstay of therapy for all forms of botulism |
Prevention
| Persons who do home canning
should follow strict hygienic procedures to reduce contamination of foods.
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| Follow proper home canning
techniques (the time, pressure, and temperature required to destroy spores.)
Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture's
Food and Nutrition
Information Center for more information: |
| Never eat food from damaged cans
(food cans with slits, holes, dents or bulges).
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| Do not feed honey or honey-water
to children less than 12 months |
All information is general in
nature and is not intended to be used as a substitute for appropriate
professional advice.
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