| Botulism is a rare but serious illness. It is caused by a | | | | 12 to 36 hours (within a minimum and maximum |
| neurotoxin, generically called botulinum toxin, that is | | | | range of four hours to eight days) after exposure. |
| produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. | | | | The disease can be fatal in 5 to 10% of cases. |
| Botulinic toxin is one of the most powerful known | | | | Treatment may include antitoxins, intensive medical |
| toxins: about one microgram is lethal to humans. It | | | | care or surgery of infected wounds. There are two |
| acts by blocking nerve function and leads to | | | | primary Botulinum Antitoxins available for treatment |
| respiratory and musculoskeletal paralysis. In the | | | | of wound and foodborne botulism. First is Trivalent |
| United States an average of 110 cases of botulism | | | | Botulinum Antitoxin is derived from equine sources |
| are reported each year. Of these, approximately | | | | utilizing whole antibodies. The second antitoxin is |
| 25% are foodborne, 72% are infant botulism, and | | | | heptavalent Botulinum Antitoxin which is derived from |
| 3% are wound botulism. There are three kinds of | | | | "despeciated" equine IgG antibodies which have had |
| botulism. Foodborne botulism comes from eating | | | | the Fc portion cleaved off leaving the F(ab')2 |
| foods contaminated with the toxin. Wounds infected | | | | portions. Botulism may be prevented by inactivation |
| with toxin-producing bacteria result in wound botulism. | | | | of the bacterial spores in heat-sterilized, canned |
| Infant botulism is caused by consuming the spores of | | | | products or by inhibiting growth in all other |
| the bacteria. | | | | productsFood and water samples associated with |
| All three forms can be deadly and are medical | | | | suspect cases must be obtained immediately, stored |
| emergencies. Wound botulism is a rare disease and | | | | in proper sealed containers, and sent to reference |
| occurs when the spores get into an open wound and | | | | laboratories in order to help prevent further cases. |
| are able to reproduce in an anaerobic environment. | | | | Botulism Treatment and Prevention Tips |
| The symptoms produced are similar to the | | | | 1. Wash your hands. |
| foodborne form, but may take up to two weeks to | | | | 2. Be very careful when canning foods at home. |
| appear. Common symptoms of either form usually | | | | 3. Do not let babies eat honey. |
| include dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, slurred | | | | 4. Get prompt medical care for infected wounds. |
| speech, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, double | | | | 5. Acidic conditions will prevent the growth or |
| and/or blurred vision, vomiting, bladder and | | | | formation of toxin. |
| sometimes diarrhea. These symptoms may progress | | | | 6. Antitoxins, intensive medical care or surgery of |
| to cause paralytic ileus with severe constipation, and | | | | infected wounds. |
| eventually body paralysis. They usually appear within | | | | |