Botulism

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Bacteria

• Difficulty swallowing and speaking
• Progressive weakness with paralysis
• Nausea, vomiting
• Abdominal cramps
• Dry mouth
• Double vision
• Breathing difficulty that may lead to respiratory failure
• Temporary lack of breathing 
• No fever, usually
• In infants:
  • Constipation
  • Weakness, loss of muscle tone
  • Weak cry
  • Poor feeding and weak sucking
  • Respiratory distress
  • Alertness, despite weakness

Symptoms usually appear between 8 - 36 hours after consuming contaminated food.

• Speech impairment
• Muscle function/feeling loss
• Eyelid drooping
• Absent or decreased gag reflex
• Absent or decreased deep tendon reflexes
• Paralyzed bowel
• Severe constipation
• Urine retention with inability to urinate
• Blood test to identify toxin
• Laboratory analysis of suspected food
• Stool culture

Review Date: 11/07/2005
Reviewed By: Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB) Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.