Infant botulism

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Infant intestines

Theoretically, the disease might be avoided by preventing exposure to spores. Since honey and corn syrup are sources of Clostridium spores, they should not be fed to infants less than12 months (1 year) old.

Although breast-feeding appears to be a risk factor for infantile botulism, the overall risk is very low. The benefits of breast-feeding still greatly outweigh the risks in nearly all cases.

Review Date: 08/18/2006
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.