Background

Clostridium botulinum are common bacteria found in low-oxygen soil and aquatic sediments. In their natural environment, the bacteria can cause toxicity in foraging animals that ingest them.

The most common form of botulism in the United States (usually ≥ 70%) occurs in infants when C. botulinum spores in unpasteurized foods (such as raw honey) or the environment are swallowed and grow in their intestines, releasing toxins. Botulism illness in adults is usually associated with the consumption of improperly canned and preserved foods that are contaminated with C. botulinum bacteria or its toxins. Punctures and lacerations of the skin can also become a source of botulism if soil containing C. botulinum enters the wound.

Botulinum toxins are extremely potent and are used in medical and cosmetic procedures (under the brand names BOTOX®, Dysport®, and others) to induce short-term paralysis of small muscles. Botulinum toxins are used for the prevention of migraine headaches, urinary incontinence, muscle spasms, and relaxation of facial wrinkles. Amounts used in cosmetic procedures are between 50-100 times less than the dose required to poison a person. In rare cases, people receiving these therapies have developed botulism from improper concentrations and/or long-term injections of toxins.

Botulism is a life-threatening illness, no matter how it is acquired. Symptoms of botulism include but are not limited to:

• Difficulty swallowing.
• Muscle weakness.
• Double vision.
• Drooping eyelids.
• Blurry vision.
• Slurred speech.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Difficulty moving the eyes.

If botulism is foodborne, symptoms may also include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Seek medical attention immediately if you are experiencing these symptoms, since up to 50% of people who become ill with botulism die without treatment. Symptoms of botulism can be confused with other diseases of the central nervous system, including but not limited to Guillain-Barré syndrome or myasthenia gravis.