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Botulism ("BOT-choo-liz-um") is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves. It causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death. All five kinds are medical emergencies.
The toxin and where it comes from
The toxin is made by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and sometimes by Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium baratii. These bacteria can produce it in food, in wounds, and in the intestines of infants.
They are found naturally in many places but rarely make people sick. They form spores — protective coatings that let them survive, even in extreme conditions. Spores usually cause no illness even when eaten, but under certain conditions they can grow and make one of the most lethal toxins known:
- little or no oxygen;
- low acid;
- low sugar;
- low salt;
- a certain temperature range;
- a certain amount of water.
Improperly home-canned, preserved or fermented foods, for example, can give spores those conditions. People who eat such food can become seriously ill, or die, without prompt treatment.
The five kinds
| Kind | How it happens |
|---|---|
| Foodborne | eating food contaminated with the toxin — most often homemade foods improperly canned, preserved or fermented; store-bought foods are occasionally contaminated too |
| Wound | spores get into a wound and make toxin; more likely in people who inject illicit drugs, and possible after a traumatic injury such as a motorcycle crash, or surgery |
| Infant | for reasons not understood, spores get into some infants' intestines, grow and make toxin |
| Iatrogenic | too much botulinum toxin injected for cosmetic reasons, such as wrinkles, or medical ones, such as migraines |
| Adult intestinal toxemia (adult intestinal colonization) | very rare: spores grow and make toxin in an adult's intestines, as in infant botulism; the cause is unknown, though people with a serious gut condition may be more likely to get it |
What to do
All kinds of botulism can be fatal. If you or your child has signs and symptoms of botulism, see a doctor or go to the emergency room at once. Do not wait.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "About Botulism." https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/about/index.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Licens: CC0 1.0 (offentligt eje) · Bearbejdet efter www.cdc.gov
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