Prepared by: Joevi Jhun A. Idul BSE- BioSci 3

Botulism

Botulism(food poisoning)

DiseaseCause

Signs and SymptomsIncubation Period

TreatmentPrevention

DiseaseBotulism is a rare but serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The bacteria may enter the body through wounds, or by eating them from improperly canned or preserved food.

Foodborne botulismcaused by eating foods that contain botulism toxin

Intestinal botulism (infant and child/adult)caused by ingesting spores of the bacteria which germinate and produce toxin in the intestine

Wound botulism C. botulinum spores germinate in the wound

Inhalation botulism

Aerosolized toxin is inhaleddoes not occur naturally and may be indicative of bioterrorism

Botulism(food poisoning)

DiseaseCause

Signs and SymptomsIncubation Period

TreatmentPrevention

CauseClostridium botulinum is found in soil and untreated

water throughout the world.

Clostridium botulinum is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped,  anaerobic, spore-forming, motile bacterium with the

ability to produce the neurotoxin botulinium.

Clostridium botulinum

Clostridium botulinum

• COLONIZATION OF THE GUTThe most common form in Western countries is infant botulism. This occurs in infants who are colonized with the bacterium in the small intestine during the early stages of their lives.

The bacterium then produces the toxin, which is absorbed into the bloodstream. The consumption of honey during the first year of life has been identified as a risk factor for infant botulism.

• FOOD

Toxin that is produced by the bacterium within containers of food that have been improperly preserved is the most common cause of food-borne botulism.

• WOUNDWound botulism results from the contamination of a wound with the bacteria, which then secrete the toxin into the bloodstream.

• INHALATIONIsolated cases of botulism have been described after inhalation by laboratory workers.

• INJECTIONBotulism has occurred after cosmetic use of inappropriate strengths of  Botox.

Botulism(food poisoning)

DiseaseCause

Signs and SymptomsIncubation Period

TreatmentPrevention

Signs and SymptomsIn adults, symptoms may include:

• Abdominal cramps• Breathing difficulty that

may lead to respiratory failure

• Difficulty swallowing and speaking

• Double vision• Nausea• Vomiting• Weakness with paralysis

(equal on both sides of the body)

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms in infants may include:

• Constipation• Drooling• Poor feeding and weak

sucking• Respiratory distress• Weak cry• Weakness, loss of muscle

tone

Botulism(food poisoning)

DiseaseCause

Signs and SymptomsIncubation Period

TreatmentPrevention

Incubation Period

Infants: 3-30 daysChildren and adults: 12-72 hours

Botulism(food poisoning)

DiseaseCause

Signs and SymptomsIncubation Period

TreatmentPrevention

TreatmentYou will need medicine to fight the toxin produced by the bacteria, called botulinus antitoxin.

You will have to stay in the hospital if you have breathing trouble. A tube may be inserted through the nose or mouth into the windpipe to provide an airway for oxygen. You may need a breathing machine.

Patients who have trouble swallowing may be given fluids through a vein (by IV). A feeding tube may be inserted.

Health care providers must tell state health authorities or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about patients with botulism, so that the contaminated food can be removed from stores.

Some people are given antibiotics, but they may not always help.

Botulism(food poisoning)

DiseaseCause

Signs and SymptomsIncubation Period

TreatmentPrevention

PreventionNEVER give honey or corn syrup to infants younger than 1 year old -- not even just a little taste on a pacifier.

Prevent infant botulism by breastfeeding only, if possible.

Always throw away bulging cans or foul-smelling preserved foods. Sterilizing home-canned foods by pressure cooking them at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes may reduce the risk for botulism.

Keep foil-wrapped baked potatoes hot or in the refrigerator, not at room temperature.

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