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Botulism

Laura B. Bishop, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A paralytic illness caused by a neurotoxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum

  • Characterized by acute onset of cranial nerve dysfunction (diplopia, difficulty sw...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Adult botulism:

    • Acute onset of cranial nerve dysfunction

    • IV drug use, skin-popping, or cocaine use (wound botulism)

    • Retains normal mental state; no fever or sensory dysfunction

  • Infantile ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Patients with clinical signs, symptoms, or history suspicious for botulism should be hospitalized immediately and closely monitored for signs of respiratory failure  (2). ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Outpatient follow-up with physical/occupational therapy, nutrition specialist, and psychiatry, as needed 

Patient Monitoring

  • Pulmonary function testing

  • Cardiorespira...

REFERENCES

1
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Botulism Annual Summary, 2018. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, 2020.
2
Schreiner MS, Field E, Ruddy R. ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Dilena R, Pozzato M, Baselli L, et al. Infant botulism: checklist for timely clinical diagnosis and new possible risk factors originated from a case report and literature...

SEE ALSO

Food Poisoning, Bacterial 

CODES

ICD10

  • A48.52 Wound botulism

  • A48.5 Other specified botulism

  • A48.51 Infant botulism

  • A05.1 Botulism food poisoning

SNOMED

  • 398530003 Wound botulism

  • 398565003 Infection caused by Clostridium botulinum

  • 398523...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Botulism is paralytic illness caused by a neurotoxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

    • Infantile botulism is caused by ingestion of spores (typically from soil ...

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