Botulism
Symptoms of botulism
The time it takes to develop symptoms can vary from a few hours to several days after exposureto the Clostridium botulinum bacteria or their toxins.
Depending on the exact type of the condition (see Causes and types of botulism below),some peopleinitially have symptoms such asfeeling sick, vomiting,stomach cramps, diarrhoea or constipation .
Without treatment,botulismeventually causes paralysis thatspreads down the body from the head to the legs. Symptoms can include:
- drooping eyelids
- blurred or double vision
- facial muscle weakness
- difficulty swallowing
- slurred speech
- breathing difficulties
Affected babies may also have a weak cry, find it difficult to feed and have a floppy head, neckandlimbs.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Read about botulism, a rare but serious condition caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Find out about the symptoms, causes and treatments.
Symptoms of botulism
The time it takes to develop symptoms can vary from a few hours to several days after exposureto the Clostridium botulinum bacteria or their toxins. Depending on the exact type of the condition (see
When to get medical advice
Botulism is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department or dial 999 for an ambulancestraight awayif you or some
Causes and types of botulism
Clostridium botulinum bacteria are found in soil, dust, and river or sea sediments. The bacteria themselves aren't harmful, but they can produce highly poisonous toxins when deprived of oxygen such as
Treatment for botulism
Botulism needs to be treated in hospital. Thewayit's treated depends onwhichtype of botulism you have, but treatment will usually involve: neutralising the toxins with injections of special antitox
Preventing botulism
As a result ofhigh standards of food hygiene in the UK, the chances of getting food-borne botulism from food bought in this country are tiny. There's a slightly higher risk if you produce your own fo
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