Botulism is a serious but rare disease caused by the action of botulinum toxin produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum, found in soil and in poorly preserved foods; infection with this bacteria can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and if left untreated, it can lead to muscle insufficiency.
Depending on how the toxin and bacteria enter the body, the disease can be classified as:
- It is important that botulism is identified by blood and microbiological tests in order to initiate treatment and prevent disease progression.
- Which can lead to disability or death.
Symptoms of botulism usually appear 4 to 36 hours after the toxin enters the body, the higher the concentration of toxin in the blood, the earlier the symptoms appear, the main being the main:
As the disease progresses, symptoms become more severe and debilitating, mainly due to weak respiratory muscles, leading to breathing difficulties, which can lead to death from paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
In the case of infant botulism, characterized by the entry of bacteria into the body and the subsequent production of toxins, the clinical picture can range from mild constipation to sudden death, so it is important to identify botulism in the first symptoms so that the treatment can learn more about the baby’s botulism.
Botulism is mainly caused by the consumption of food contaminated with the bacteria and its toxin.The main cause of infant botulism is the consumption of honey before the first year, because at this stage, the baby does not yet have a well developed immune system, being prone to infections by opportunistic bacteria.
Homemade preserves also present a high risk of Clostridium botulinum infection, as moisture and nutrients are present and bacteria can multiply and produce toxins that can resist the body’s digestive enzymes, leading to food poisoning.
Vegetables, fish, fruits and spices are the most common food sources.Beef, dairy products, pork and poultry and other foods may also contain bacteria or botulinum toxin.Here’s how to avoid food contamination.
The diagnosis of botulism is made by the doctor based on the analysis of the symptoms presented by the patient, as well as blood or stool tests that indicate the presence of the bacteria in the body. After diagnosis of the disease, treatment is performed.It is initiated and should be performed, preferably in a hospital environment, from the administration of anti-botulinic serum that aims to neutralize the effects of the toxin on the body.Understand how botulism is treated.
The best way to prevent botulism is to clean food before preparing and eating it, in addition to paying attention to storage conditions, not leaving food in an environment with a temperature above 15 degrees Celsius, for example.In addition, it is recommended to avoid eating canned foods that are in slow-boiled cans or glasses, or that have a change in the smell or appearance of food.