BOTULISM Clostridium botulinum What IS Botulism Botulism also
BOTULISM Clostridium botulinum
What IS Botulism? • Botulism, also known as botulinus intoxication is a serious illness that causes paralysis, caused by the botulinum toxin. The toxin is caused by Clostridium botulinum, a type of bacterium. There are four ways in which the toxin can enter the human body: • Infant botulism - by colonization of the digestive tract by Clostridium botulinum in babies. • Adult botulism - by colonization of the digestive tract by Clostridium botulinum in adults. • Foodborne botulism - as a result of eating foodstuffs with the toxin. • Wound botulism - when botulinum toxin contaminates a wound.
Symptoms • All types of botulism eventually lead to paralysis, which generally starts with the face muscles and then spreads to the limbs. In severe cases there is respiratory failure when the breathing muscles become paralyzed. Because of these, all botulism cases are treated as medical emergencies. There are good antitoxins available today which have significantly improved the outlook for infected patients. • Fun fact: Cooking at 121 C (250 F) for three minutes destroys the spores, effectively preventing botulism.
How is it spread? • Botulism is not transmitted from person to person. It develops if a person ingests the toxin (or rarely, if the toxin is inhaled or injected) or if the organism grows in the intestines or wounds and toxin is released. Foodborne botulism is spread by consuming food contaminated with the botulism toxin or spores.
BOTULISM IS A BACTERIA
Disease Note drooping eyelids and non moving pupils
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES IT EFFECT?
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