|
•
Newsroom
•
About DOH
•
Organization Chart
• DOH Web (A-Z)
•
Alternative File Format Information
Emergency Preparedness
•
General Information
•
Local
Health Agencies and Healthcare Providers
|
|
This fact sheet is
available in:
|
PDF files require a free reader.
Download
a reader. This document was produced in cooperation with the Emergency
Management Division of the Washington State Military Department.
Botulism
What is botulism?
- Botulism is a rare, muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a toxin
(poisonous substance) made
by Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacteria found naturally in
the soil. There are three main types of botulism: foodborne, infant, and
wound. Botulism toxin could be used as a biological weapon because it
can be breathed in or swallowed.
How is botulism spread? What are the symptoms?
- You can get botulism from eating contaminated food or when a wound
is contaminated by the bacteria. The disease is not spread from person
to person. The amount of exposure to the toxin determines how quickly
symptoms appear--from a few hours to several days.
- Regardless of how the toxin enters the body, the results are the
same. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include double or blurred
vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry
mouth, and muscle weakness (starts with shoulders and descends through
body). Finally, breathing muscles may be paralyzed causing death unless
mechanical breathing assistance is available.
- Foodborne botulism occurs when a person eats food contaminated
with the toxin-producing bacteria. This usually results from poor
home-canning techniques. The first symptoms may include nausea and
vomiting. Foodborne botulism can occur in all age groups. The source of the contaminated food
must be identified as quickly as possible to prevent others from
becoming ill.
- Infant botulism occurs in a small number of infants each year who
have C. botulinum bacteria in their intestinal tract.
- Wound botulism occurs when wounds are infected with C. botulinum,
for example, when a wound is contaminated during an outdoor injury by
contact with contaminated soil. The bacteria can only infect damaged
skin.
Preventive measures
- If you have symptoms, please consult a healthcare provider as soon
as possible. If you believe you have been intentionally exposed to
botulism, you should contact law enforcement officials immediately.
- There is no vaccine to prevent botulism. You can reduce risk of
exposure by following safe food handling and cooking practices and by
keeping wounds or cuts clean and properly bandaged.
Treatment for botulism
- Immediate treatment is essential. The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention maintains a supply of medication to treat botulism. This
medication can only be obtained by healthcare providers from health
departments when botulism is suspected or confirmed. The medication
reduces the severity of symptoms if it is given early. Most patients eventually recover.
DOH Pub 821-022
Revised - March 2008
|
