Botulism (check if had diarrhoea and/or constipation) - Medtick

Botulism (check if had diarrhoea and/or constipation)

What is it?

A serious bacterial condition where the bacteria releases it toxins (this occurs because the bacteria is deprived of oxygen in its environment i.e. in unmoved soil, canned food) this then:

  • Binds to the tiny space between a nerve and a muscle, preventing the nerve from sending a message to the corresponding muscle.
  • When a nerve cannot send a message to direct a muscle to move, the muscle becomes paralyzed)
  • It that can cause damage to the nervous system and death.

Cause

  • Bacteria: Clostridium botulinum
    • Found in old untouched and stagnate soil, mud and dust
    • Found in rivers or sea sediment.

Food-borne botulism

  • Eating or drinking contaminated canned food, home preserved fruit and vegetables or cooked canned food or from damaged cans/bulging cans, out of date foods, foul-smelling preserved foods, foods stored at the incorrect temperature.

Wound botulism

  • Usually as a result of injecting contaminated illegal drugs such as heroin, into muscle rather than a vein.
  • Surgical incisions, abrasions (cuts or grazes) , lacerations, open fractures, or sinusitis (runny nose) from using cocaine intranasally (through the nose).

Infant botulism

  • Affects children younger than one year old or if their immune systems has not fully developed yet who eat contaminated soil, honey and fish (these contain the bacteria spores and the bacteria will grow in the child’s intestine).
  • Breast feeding mothers and/or Pregnant females can have honey and certain fish  (also beware of mercury levels in fish) as they have developed the necessary protection against botulism.

Adult Intestinal Toxemia Botulism

  • Clostridium botulinum get into a person’s intestines and then grow and make the toxin.

Symptoms

Initial symptoms:

Twenty-four hours later (sudden symptoms):

  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Facial muscle weakness ar first then spread down to neck ,chest and other parts of body (arms and legs)?
  • Blurred vision?
  • Drooping eyelids?
  • Difficulty swallowing?
  • Slurred speech?
  • Breathing difficulties?

Babies and children (Additional symptoms):

  • Appear ‘floppy’ and lethargic?
  • Have a weak cry?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance


This condition may show similar symptoms to (these are all  a Medical Emergency):

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Botulism (check if had diarrhoea and/or constipation) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

  • NHS

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  • Medscape

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  • Pharmaceutical Journal

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  • WebMD

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  • Cleveland Clinic

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  • Mayo Clinic

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  • Drugs.com

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  • National Organisation of Rare Diseases

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  • Verywell Health

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  • Fit for Travel

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  • DR Axe

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