What is Botulism?
Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which occurs in soil. It produces a toxin that affects your nerves. There are three kinds of botulism. Foodborne botulism comes from eating foods contaminated with the toxin. Wounds infected with toxin-producing bacteria result in wound botulism. Infant botulism is caused by consuming the spores of the bacteria, usually from honey. All three forms can be deadly and are medical emergencies.
Symptoms include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness. Treatment may include antitoxins, intensive medical care or surgery of infected wounds.
To prevent botulism:
- Be very careful when canning foods at home
- Do not let babies eat honey
- Get prompt medical care for infected wounds
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Related Botulism Images and Links
Botulism - PubMed Health - National Center for Biotechnology ... PubMed Health specializes in reviews of clinical effectiveness research, with easy-to-read summaries for consumers as well as full technical reports. Read More
Botulism: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The bacteria may enter the body through wounds, or they may live in improperly canned ... Read More
Botulism: MedlinePlus - National Library of Medicine - National ... Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum , which occurs in soil. It produces a toxin that affects your nerves. There ... Read More
Botulism - National Institutes of Health (NIH) NIAID-supported researchers are seeking a new way to treat and prevent botulism, a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by the bacterium Clostridium ... Read More
Botulinum toxin: Bioweapon & magic drug - National Center for ... Botulinum neurotoxins, causative agents of botulism in humans, are produced by Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic spore-former Gram positive bacillus. Read More
Botulism Transmission - National Institutes of Health (NIH) Transmission. Cases of foodborne botulism often originate with home-canned foods with low acid content, such as asparagus, green beans, beets, and corn. Read More
Laboratory Diagnostics of Botulism - National Center for ... Botulism is a potentially lethal paralytic disease caused by botulinum neurotoxin. Human pathogenic neurotoxins of types A, B, E, and F are produced by a diverse ... Read More
Infant botulism - PubMed Health - National Center for ... PubMed Health specializes in reviews of clinical effectiveness research, with easy-to-read summaries for consumers as well as full technical reports. Read More
Botulism - NIH Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR) A US Department of Health and Human Service project providing information on genetic and rare diseases. A comprehensive body of resources on Botulism Read More
Botulism Cause - National Institutes of Health (NIH) Cause. Botulism is caused by toxin (poison) produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This toxin affects your nerves and, if untreated, can cause ... Read More
Share Your Thoughts, Discuss with other Patients:
Additional Botulism Resources and Links
Yahoo! Answers: Search for
Yahoo! Answers: Search for
-
Open Question: health help please!!!!?
(Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:36:06 GMT)
1. _____ _____ occurs when foods or beverages have been contaminated with germs.
(Points : 1)
2. Food poisoning can only develop immediately after contaminated food has been eaten.
(Points : 1)
True
False
3. Which of the following is not a food-borne illness?
(Points : 1)
E. coli infection
Botulism
Salmonellosis
Apnea
Gastroenteritis
4. What are the four simple steps to food safety?
(Points : 1)
Clean, separate, cook
-
Resolved Question: Someone please help me with my health homework? 10 POINTS?
(Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:34:58 GMT)
Question 1- The virus that causes __________ also causes itchy, red bumps.
the flu
chicken pox
athlete's foot
an urinary tract infection
Question 2- Pathogens are microorganisms that cure disease.
True
False
Question 3- What is the common cold's pathogen.
Bacteria
Virus
Fungus
Protozoan
Question 4- Which childhood disease causes infantile paralysis?
Mononucleosis
Chicken Pox
Mumps
Polio
Question 5-
-
Resolved Question: Legal Advice: My relative gave her friend Botulism?
(Tue, 01 Feb 2011 08:30:14 GMT)
My relative has gotten her friend ill by accident with her home canning. He is in the hospital with confirmed botulism from the canning (tested by the health department), expected to recover, but slowly. My relative is deeply distressed over her friend's condition, but I wonder, although an accident, can he successfully sue her for bills (he has insurance, thank goodness), etc? She doesn't have anything, money-wise, and they are friends. We are all worried for his health, but afraid of getting
-
Resolved Question: HEALTH HOMEWORK PLEASE HELP?
(Sat, 13 Nov 2010 22:42:25 GMT)
TB is a __________.
A digestive disease
B heart disease
C liver disease
D respiratory disease
__________is caused by a virus.
A Flu
B Toxic shock
C Botulism
D Tetanus
What does pathogenic mean?
A Non-disease producing
B Type of bacteria
C Disease producing
D A protozoan
A disease that is characteristic of a particular local region is called:
A endemic
B pandemic
C disastrous
D uniform
Antibiotics kill both viruses and bacteria.
Tru
-
Resolved Question: Can you use a cranberry chutney that you suspect of food poisoning if you cook it really well?
(Wed, 23 Jun 2010 18:25:06 GMT)
I got a small bottle of cranberry chutney at a fair from a lady who makes and bottles it in her home. It tasted really good. Later on I got food poisoning symptoms, not really bad just diarrhea. It could have come from something else I ate, so not sure. I don't know if the container was properly sealed, because she said the bottle had a button that would release when unsealed - but all the bottles had a sort of button in the center that is up, but it was hard, not the type that's soft to
-
Resolved Question: Horse question: What are the health risks of a bunch of dead fish laying around in the horse pasture until we?
(Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:34:24 GMT)
can get them picked up!? I know, it sounds crazy but our creek flooded BIG time and now there are about 100 dead fish laying in the lower pasture! Im hoping over night last night that all the possums,foxes and raccoons had a fish eating party!!! But my sister is freaking out thinking our horses are going to die if they eat grass next to where the fish are!
I know they can get deathly ill if they get botulism or if they eat moldy hay..I just dont think with about 120plus acres they are going to
-
Voting Question: help!! true or false hospitality questions!?
(Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:19:07 GMT)
True or False?
1. Environmental Health Managers ensure food enterprises administer the Food Act
2. Bacteria like acidic food
3. Food that is spoiled can be easily identified
4. Food can be thawed on the sink or in a bowl of warm water
5. Dry stores require adequate ventilation
6. Vehicles transporting food must be made of porous materials
7. Clostridium Botulism can be fatal.
8. Frozen chicken should be stored at -10 o C
9. Correctly storing food and maintaining high standards of personal and
-
Resolved Question: Medicene Questions??
(Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:50:51 GMT)
The most recent manual published by the American Psychiatric Association which covers all mental disorders for both adults and children is the
DSMD-IV
DSM-IV TR
DMMD-V
DMS-V
2: Which of the following body systems is considered one of the nine key IC systems?
lymphatic system
skeletal system
hematology
none of the above
3: In general, a radial keratonomy is a procedure performed by an
orthoptist
ophthalmologist
optician
optometrist
4: Which of the following is not considered
-
Resolved Question: More health questions?
(Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:29:48 GMT)
1. Compounds that exist naturally in plants, serve many functions, including helping a plant protect itself from bacteria and disease, and potential disease-fighting properties for humans
a. antioxidants
b. hydrogenated fats
c. phytochemicals
d. essential nutrients
2. which statement is NOT TRUE regarding gender nutritional differences?
a. women who become pregnant should take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid.
b. men need to consume more fruits and veggies.
c. women should cu
-
Resolved Question: Canning question about caramel.?
(Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:03:54 GMT)
I am trying to find some information on canning high-sugar foods using the water bath method. I have read that high-sugar food are not a risk for botulism, only mold, yeast and spoilage so they can be canned using the water bath method.
However I am trying to find some good information on what "high sugar" is. I want to can some "dulce de leche" (caramel sauce) and I really can't imagine anything much higher in sugar than a caramel. However most sources seem to say you can't can caramel, m
-
Resolved Question: What's the latest on peanut butter?
(Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:41:11 GMT)
I know there is a lot of debate out there on when to introduce peanut butter. In the latest publication I have from public health, it says that it can be introduced into the diet between 9 - 12 months as a spread on crackers or bread (obviously not by itself as it is too smooth and sticky.) Further, it says if there is no history of allergies, there is no reason to delay introducing foods except for egg whites before a year. Honey should also wait until after a year because of the risk of b
-
Resolved Question: if you give your baby corn syrup even a drop under one botulism can occurr!!?
(Sat, 05 May 2007 19:09:07 GMT)
i was reading someones question about an eight month old being unable to poop for days and the mom wnting an answer of how to help the child. many people recomended that the baby be given corn syrup mixed with juice. why does no one know that they could give their child botulism from doing this and could cause harm to someone elses child under one by recomending it?http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00657.html
-
Resolved Question: Has anyone received their copy of Parent's Magazine this month?
(Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:57:07 GMT)
If so Read the article that starts on page 71. "Baby Mealtime Makeover". There is a list at the bottom of page 73 about Taboo foods. They list Honey and Corn Syrup (Which would be Karo Syrup). These can BOTH cause botulism poisoning. I always see a lot of people recommending putting Karo Syrup in a baby's bottle if they are constipated and this can KILL your baby. DO NOT give these to children under 1 year of age. The risk might be low, but why take the risk with your child's health?
This is N
Botulism
