Botulism is a very serious and sometimes fatal medical condition caused by toxins that come from bacteria. It can affect both animals and humans.
There are five main types of botulism:
In South Africa, botulism is known to affect some types of farm animals as well as birds that live in or spend time near water. However, it is very rare in humans.
Botulism typically weakens your muscles. This can lead to symptoms like:
Wound botulism may lead to other symptoms. Watch for any openings in the skin that become reddened, warm, swollen, or painful. Wound botulism can also cause pus or other fluids to drain out of a wound.
It can be harder to identify infant botulism. Signs may include loss of appetite, constipation, drooping eyelids, lack of facial expressions, or changes in breathing.
If untreated, botulism can be fatal.
Botulism can be caused by a few different types of bacteria. The most common is Clostridium botulinum. These bacteria can produce a dangerous toxin if the circumstances are right, such as if the bacteria are growing at a specific temperature or in an environment with a certain amount of moisture.
Risk factors that can increase your chances of having botulism include:
If you think you may have botulism, your doctor may first test for other more common health conditions that cause similar symptoms, including meningitis or stroke. Your doctor may use imaging tests to examine your brain, take a sample of fluid from your spinal cord (perform a spinal tap), or measure the ability of your muscles and nerves to work properly.
Once other conditions are ruled out, your doctor may perform other tests to look for bacteria or toxins.
Antitoxins can help treat botulism and help prevent future damage. If botulism affected a wound, your doctor may recommend taking antibiotics and cutting out the diseased tissue to prevent the bacteria from spreading.
Other treatments may also be needed to help relieve symptoms. For example, you may need to be put on a ventilator if botulism affects your ability to breathe on your own.