Infant botulism can impact children that are 2-8 months old. This kind of infection happens after spores of the C. botulinum bacteria grow in a baby’s intestinal tract. This form of botulism displays symptoms within 18-36 hours of the toxin entering the baby’s body. This is a life-threatening infection, and infants who might have infant botulism need to be seen by a doctor immediately.
Infants with infant botulism will show the following symptoms:
Babies might also have diarrhoea related to infant botulism, although constipation is more common.
This botulism infection happens when C. botulinum spores get into a baby’s intestines. The bacteria multiply in this environment rapidly, creating toxins that cause the symptoms of this illness. In some cases, babies can get this infection from eating honey. It is more likely that an infant will contract c. botulinum from items contaminated by soil that has bacteria in it. This kind of botulism can also be seen in adults, but it is very rare.
The risk factors for infant botulism are exposure to items that are contaminated by soil or being fed honey as a baby. Light and dark corn syrups can also contain botulism and should not be fed to children who are not yet a year old. Children that are very constipated and form less than one stool a day for longer than two months might also be at risk for developing infant botulism.
Because the symptoms of infant botulism are usually very recognizable, most doctors will diagnose after looking for muscle weakness and reports from the parents of being tired and having trouble eating. Stool or blood samples can be taken to confirm the diagnosis of botulism, since this is a life-threatening condition, and most doctors will not wait for lab results to come back before beginning treatment.
Prevention of infant botulism requires that babies are not fed any honey or processed foods that contain honey. Care should be taken to avoid giving babies items that have had contact with dirt since infants like to suck on items and put things in their mouths. Washing dropped toys and pacifiers can go a long way toward preventing this kind of infection.
Treatment for infant botulism usually involves giving the botulism antitoxin right away. This helps to slow the progression of the bacteria and to reduce toxicity. Babies with infant botulism will typically be admitted to the hospital to be observed carefully and so that intravenous fluids and other supportive care can be given as they recover. Some babies will need to be placed on a ventilator to help them to breathe.
Infants who have been infected with botulism might have a long road ahead for recovery, depending upon the severity of their symptoms. Some children will need physical therapy to regain lost movement and function in the limbs, while others will need long-term supportive care for eating and digestion after the infection has been cleared.