8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

1/18

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

2/18

Botulism is arare but seriousconditioncaused bytoxins frombacteria calledClostridium

botulinum.

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

3/18

Botulism comes in three main forms:

Infant botulism Food-bornebotulism. Wound Botulism

This most commonform of botulism

begins afterClostridiumbotulinum bacterialspores grow in ababy's intestinal

tract. It typicallyoccurs between theages of 2 and 6months.

The harmfulbacteria thrive

and produce thetoxin inenvironmentswith little

oxygen, such asin canned food.

If these bacteria getinto a cut, they can

cause a dangerousinfection thatproduces the toxin.Because all types ofbotulism can

potentially causedeath, all types ofbotulism areconsidered medical

emergencies

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

4/18

Infant botulism Food-bornebotulism.

Wound Botulism

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

5/18

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

6/18

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMSFood-borne and wound botulism

Difficulty swallowing orspeakingFacial weakness on both sides

of the faceBlurred visionDrooping eyelidsTrouble breathingNausea, vomiting andabdominal cramps (only infood-borne botulism)Paralysis

Infant botulism

Constipation (often the firstsign)Floppy movements due to

muscle weakness, and troublecontrolling the headWeak cryIrritability

DroolingDrooping eyelidsTirednessDifficulty sucking or feedingParalysis

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

7/18

Certain signs and symptoms usually aren't present

with botulism, including no elevation in bloodpressure or heart rate, no confusion and no fever.However, fever is sometimes present with woundbotulism.

When to see a doctorSeek urgent medical care if you suspect that youhave botulism. Early treatment increases yourchances of survival. Seeking medical care promptlymay also serve to alert public health authorities, whocan keep other people from eating contaminatedfood.

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

8/18

CAUSESInfant botulism Food-borne

botulism.

Wound Botulism

Babies get infant botulismafter consuming spores ofthe bacteria, which thengrow and multiply in theintestine and make toxins.The source of infantbotulism may be honey,but is more likely to beexposure to soilcontaminated with the

bacteria

The source of food-bornebotulism is often home-canned foods that are lowin acid, such as greenbeans, corn and beets. Acommon source of theillness in Alaska isfermented seafood.However, the disease hasalso occurred from chili

peppers, baked potatoesand oil infused with garlic.When you eat foodcontaining the toxin, itdisrupts nerve function,causing paralysis.

Wound botulismWhen C. botulinumbacteria get into a wound possibly caused by aninjury you might not notice

they can multiply andproduce toxin. Woundbotulism has increased inrecent decades in peoplewho inject heroin, which

can contain spores of thebacteria. Some peoplehave also gotten botulismfrom inhaling the sporesfrom cocaine

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

9/18

Are there benefits to botulinum

toxin? You might wonder how something so toxic could ever be

beneficial, but scientists have found that the paralyzing effectof botulinum toxin makes it useful in certain circumstances.

Botulinum toxin (Botox, Myobloc) can be an effectivemedication when used in very small amounts.

Botulinum toxin has been used to reduce facial wrinkles bypreventing contraction of muscles beneath the skin, and formedical conditions, such as eyelid spasms and severe

underarm sweating. However, there have been rareoccurrences of serious side effects, such as muscle paralysisextending beyond the treated area, with the use of botulinumtoxin for medical reasons

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

10/18

Tests and diagnosis

To diagnose botulism, your doctor will check you forsigns of muscle weakness or paralysis, such asdrooping eyelids and a weak voice. Your doctor will

also ask about the foods you've eaten in the past fewdays, and ask if you may have been exposed to thebacteria through a wound. A blood test can confirmthe presence of the toxin.

.

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

11/18

Test and Diagnosis In cases of possible infant botulism, the doctor may ask if the

child has eaten honey recently and has had problems such asconstipation and sluggishness.

Analysis of stool or vomit for evidence of the toxin may helpconfirm an infant or food-borne botulism diagnosis, butbecause these tests may take days, your doctor's clinicalexamination is the primary means of diagnosis

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

12/18

Treatments and drugs

To diagnose botulism, your doctor will check you for signs ofmuscle weakness or paralysis, such as drooping eyelids and aweak voice. Your doctor will also ask about the foods you'veeaten in the past few days, and ask if you may have been

exposed to the bacteria through a wound. A blood test canconfirm the presence of the toxin.

In cases of possible infant botulism, the doctor may ask if thechild has eaten honey recently and has had problems such asconstipation and sluggishness.

Analysis of stool or vomit for evidence of the toxin may helpconfirm an infant or food-borne botulism diagnosis, butbecause these tests may take days, your doctor's clinicalexamination is the primary means of diagnosis.

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

13/18

For cases of food-borne botulism, doctors sometimesclear out the digestive system by inducing vomiting andgiving medications to induce bowel movements. If youhave botulism in a wound, a doctor may need to removeinfected tissue surgically

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

14/18

Antitoxin If you're diagnosed early with food-borne or wound

botulism, injected antitoxin reduces the risk ofcomplications. The antitoxin attaches itself to toxin that's

still circulating in your bloodstream and keeps it fromharming your nerves. The antitoxin cannot, however,reverse any damage that's already been done.

Antitoxin is not, however, recommended for cases of

infant botulism, since it doesn't affect the disease-causing germs in the baby's digestive system. Atreatment called botulism immune globulin is used totreat infants.

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

15/18

Breathing assistance If you're having trouble breathing, you will probably need

a mechanical ventilator. The ventilator forces air intoyour lungs through a tube inserted in your airwaythrough your nose or mouth. You may remain on theventilator for up to several weeks as the effects of thetoxin gradually lessen.

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

16/18

Rehabilitation As you recover, you may also need therapy to improve

your speech, swallowing and other functions affected bythe disease.

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

17/18

Prevention Use proper canning techniquesBe sure to use proper techniques when canning foods at home to

ensure that any botulism germs in the food are destroyed: Pressure cook these foods at 250 F (121 C) for at least 30 minutes. Consider boiling these foods for 10 minutes before serving them.

Prepare and store food safely Don't eat preserved food if its container is bulging or if the food

smells spoiled. However, taste and smell won't always give awaythe presence of C. botulinum. Some strains don't make food smellbad or taste unusual.

If you wrap potatoes in foil before baking them, eat them hot orstore them in the refrigerator

not at room temperature.

Store oils infused with garlic or herbs in the refrigerator.

8/4/2019 Have You Heard of Food Poisoning

18/18

Infant botulismTo reduce the risk of infant botulism, avoid giving honey even a tiny taste to babies under the age of 1 year.

Wound botulismTo prevent wound botulism and other seriousbloodborne diseases, never inject or inhale street drugs.