Botulism is a rare, complex condition caused by a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system and can cause life-threatening illness. Botulinum toxin, a substance produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, causes botulism. Three common forms are infant botulism, wound botulism, and food-borne botulism, but iatrogenic botulism is another rare form.
Iatrogenic botulism occurs when too much botulinum toxin is injected as a form of cosmetic or medical treatment. Examples are using botulinum toxin to treat wrinkles or migraines. All forms of botulism are dangerous medical emergencies.
Common symptoms of iatrogenic botulism include headache, muscle weakness, and paralysis of the facial muscles. Iatrogenic botulism is so rare that serious side effects have rarely occurred.
Iatrogenic botulism is caused explicitly by having too much botulinum toxin injected for treatment purposes.
You may be at heightened risk of iatrogenic botulism if you regularly receive injections of Botox, Jeuveau, Dysport, Daxxify, or another neurotoxin for wrinkle prevention and treatment or for treatment of a medical condition like migraines or teeth grinding.
If your healthcare provider suspects you have iatrogenic botulism, they’ll ask you about your recent symptoms and medical history – specifically, if you’ve been treated with a product containing botulinum toxin recently. Your provider will look for symptoms like paralysis, headache, or muscle weakness. They may also try to get blood or stool samples to test for the presence of the toxin.
Complications of iatrogenic botulism are not well documented because it is so rare. However, it’s good to be aware of potential complications of botulism as a whole so you know what to be aware of and understand how serious botulism can be. Certain types of botulism can lead to difficulty speaking, breathing, shortness of breath, and chronic weakness.
Iatrogenic botulism typically self-resolves with time. There are antitoxins and antibacterial medications used for the treatment of other types of botulism, but people who experience iatrogenic botulism rarely need medical treatment. Symptoms resolve with time.
To avoid iatrogenic botulism, make sure you’re seeing licensed aestheticians and healthcare providers if being treated medically or cosmetically with botulinum toxin.