Botulism A rare and sometimes fatal paralytic illness
Botulism A rare and sometimes fatal paralytic illness. BOTULISM
“In all cases illness is caused by the botulinium toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum in anaerobic conditions, and not by the bacterium itself. ” Anaerobic: Without air (so in a jar) -Wikipedia. com
� It most commonly preys on humans but also attacks animals.
-All forms lead to paralysis. (Starting with the face and leads to the limbs. ) -In severe cases it can lead to paralysis of breathing muscles which ultimately leads to respiratory failure. -Infant Botulism -Adult Intestinal Toxemia -Food Borne Botulism -Wound Botulism
Infant Botulism: -Children who are colonized with the bacterium while still young -Most common in the Western States. -Caused by the intake of infected food. -It starts in the intestines and then goes into the blood stream. *Parents should take extra precautions when feeding their children honey, as it has been seen as a specific cause of Infant Botulism. *Adult Intestinal Toxemia is the adult form of infant botulism. (very rare)
Adult Intestinal Toxemia: -The adult form of infant botulism. -VERY rare.
Food Borne Botulism: spore -Contaminated foodstuffs where Clostridium Botulimun has been allowed to germinate in anaerobic conditions (home canned foods, fermented uncooked dishes, etc. ) -Symptoms can appear as soon as 6 hours and as late as 10 days. *Can be prevented by pressure cooking when canning to kill spores.
Wound Botulism � Contamination of a wound with bacteria that gets into the blood stream. � Common in drug users (Those using black tar heroin and those injecting heroin into the skin rather than the veins. )
� 154 annual cases notified in USA 1999 including 23 food borne, 92 infant, and 39 other. -Hospitalization is necessary to prevent respiratory failure and antitoxin medications are given out in some cases.
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