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Botulism is a serious and rare condition caused by toxins from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. The three types of Botulism include:

Wound Botulism: occurs when the bacteria that causes botulism gets into a wound.

Food-borne Botulism: occurs from eating foods that contain the botulism bacteria. Common sources of this includes homemade foods that have been improperly preserved, fermented, or canned.

Infant Botulism: occurs when the botulism bacteria gets inside the intestines. This happens from eating something contaminated by the bacterial spore.

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The bacterium is rod-shaped, anaerobic, endospore producing bacterium.

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The causative agent for Botulism is Clostridium botulinum. One obtains Botulism mostly from ingesting improperly processed or canned food where the bacteria and or the spores survive. When these spores survive they grow and produce toxins.

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The virulence factor for Botulism is the neurotoxin it produces.

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Botulism is spread by consuming a food contaminated with the botulism spore. It is also spread if a person inhales the toxin, gets inside the body through a wound, or if it is injected into the body.

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The common symptoms for all three types of Botulism are caused by the exotoxin botulinum include:

Difficulty swallowing and speaking

Paralysis

Drooping eyelids

Facial weakness

Difficulty breathing

Symptoms for Food-borne Botulism include:

Vomiting

Nausea

Stomach pain

Diarrhea

Signs and symptoms in an infant with Botulism may include:

Constipation

Poor feeding

Pupils that are slow to react to light

Weak cry that sounds different than usual

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Interesting facts, features of the disease, historical relevance

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Interesting facts, features of the disease, historical relevance

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Botulism was first made known in 1735 when consuming sausage was the first association with Botulism.

As stated by the Whole Health Organization, the botulinum toxins are one of the most fatal substances.

Individuals who inject drugs have a higher chance of obtaining wound botulism.

Botulism toxin blocks nerve function.

Botulism toxin is used to prevent facial wrinkles.

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To diagnose botulism, your doctor ask about your recent food intakes and your diet. They will also check you for signs of muscle weakness or paralysis. Your doctor will also conduct a series of tests with the analysis of blood, stool, or vomit for evidence of the toxin present that will help diagnose botulism. Your doctor may also order an electromyography to measure muscle response and the response to nerve stimulation of muscle contraction.

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Sequelae (long term effects of the disease) 

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Sequelae (long term effects of the disease) 

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Some long term affects of Botulism may be:

Difficulty breathing

Long-lasting weaknesses

Trouble shallowing

Death

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Epidemiology is different with Botulism. There is about 110 botulism cases reported to the CDC in the United States each year. The CDC states that about 25% is food-borne, 70% infant botulism, and about 30-40% is wound botulism.

Locally: Botulism may happen locally if a family consumes green beans that they did not can properly.

US: Botulism that may occur throughout the United States might be as a result of a company not preserving and establishing the proper pH of their product.

Picture Source: ResearchGate.net

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Prevention includes following proper and safe canning instructions recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By also following all the instructions for cleaning and sanitizing instruments used for canning and preserving foods, you can reduce the risk of getting Botulism. Wound Botulism can be prevented by keeping wounds clean. Currently there are no vaccines available for Botulism. I think there should be a vaccine due to the fact that some areas do not have the resources to properly can or reheat canned goods. A vaccine can help these people who are at great risk of Botulism become immune to it.

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The treatment option for Botulism is the antitoxin. The antitoxin is an injection that should be administered as soon as possible to result in less complications. The antitoxin does not cure any damage that has already been done, just limits further damage. With the treatment of antitoxin, it binds itself to the botulism toxin that's still circulating in your bloodstream. As a result, this keeps the toxin from harming your nerves and causing more damage to one's body. One might even be put onto a ventilator if the Botulism toxin has affected the muscles of the lungs.

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(2021, June 21). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/

Lonati, D., Schicchi, A., Crevani, M., Buscaglia, E., Scaravaggi, G., Maida, F., Cirronis, M., Petrolini, V. M., & Locatelli, C. A. (2020). Foodborne Botulism: Clinical Diagnosis and Medical Treatment. Toxins, 12(8). https://doi-org.ezp.tccd.edu/10.3390/toxins12080509

(2021, April 29). Mayo Clinic - Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/

Rao, A. K., Sobel, J., Chatham-Stephens, K., & Luquez, C. (2021). Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism, 2021. MMWR. Recommendations and Reports : Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Recommendations and Reports, 70(2), 1–30. https://doi-org.ezp.tccd.edu/10.15585/mmwr.rr7002a1

World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/