Botulism can be caused by foods that were canned or preserved at home. Maybe you’ve had fruits or vegetables that someone picked from the garden in the summer and jarred so they could be eaten during the winter months. These foods need to be cooked at very high temperatures to kill the germs.Basically, bacteria called clostridium botulinum causes botulism in people who eat infected food. You cannot always see, smell, or taste these bacteria, but they release a poison called a toxin. This toxin travels through the blood to attach to the nerves that control muscles. From several hours to a week after eating contaminated food, the person may get sick.
Many botulism cases occur in infants, and experts think that’s because their digestive systems can’t protect them from germs the way an older kid’s or an adult’s digestive system can. Infant botulism can happen if a baby younger than one year eats honey, so it’s important that babies don’t eat honey until they’re older.
Early symptoms are marked fatigue, weakness and vertigo, usually followed by blurred vision, dry mouth and difficulty in swallowing and speaking. Vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal swelling may also occur. The disease can progress to weakness in the neck and arms, after which the respiratory muscles and muscles of the lower body are affected. The paralysis may make breathing difficult. There is no fever and no loss of consciousness.
The symptoms are not caused by the bacterium itself, but by the toxin produced by the bacterium. Symptoms usually appear within 12 to 36 hours (within a minimum and maximum range of four hours to eight days) after exposure. Incidence of botulism is low, but the mortality rate is high if prompt diagnosis and appropriate, immediate treatment (early administration of antitoxin and intensive respiratory care) are not given. The disease can be fatal in 5 to 10 per cent of cases.
Botulism stops the muscles from working, so someone with botulism needs medical care right away. As the toxin spreads, muscles become weak all over. Many people feel queasy and may throw up or have diarrhoea.
Other symptoms of botulism Include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty speaking
- Droopy eyelids
- Double or blurred vision
- Trouble breathing
However, after hearing about a person’s symptoms or examining a baby, the doctor will probably test the blood or stool (poop) for the toxin. The doctor also might do a spinal tap or other tests to be sure. Someone who has botulism will have to go to the hospital to be watched closely. It can take a long time for the person to get better. To prevent botulism, parent need to be more cautious as kids aren’t the ones canning food, but if their parents do, they can talk to them about the safety rules.
Source: Leadership Online
