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.

Diagnosis tests

Blood tests
Stool test
Check in vomit (if food related)
ELISA (enzyme immunoassay)
Mouse bioassay
PCR tests
Wound culture
Tests to check for nerve damage

Cause

Bacteria: Clostridium botulinum
- Found in old untouched and stagnate soil, mud and dust (including old buildings if soil being moved).
- 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contaminated canned food, home preserved fruit and vegetables or cooked canned food or from damaged cans/bulging cans, out of date foods, foul-smelling preserved foods, chamomile tea, foods stored at the incorrect temperature.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.

Source: http://www.nejm.org Wound Botulism

Source: www.researchgate.net

Source: https://en.ppt-online.org/267292

Symptoms

Initial symptoms:

Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
Diarrhoea?
Constipation?
Dry mouth?

Twenty-four hours later (sudden symptoms):

General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
Facial muscle weakness at 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):

Anaphylaxis
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Stroke
Myasthenia gravis
Opioid overdose
Poliomyelitis
Tick paralysis
Typhoid And Paratyphoid (Enteric Fever)
Any sort of muscle weakness and numbness
Rabies
Miller-Fisher syndrome:
- Balance and dizziness
- Weak eye muscles, with double or blurred vision, and often drooping eyelids with facial weakness (Argyll Robertson pupil is the most common ocular finding. It is described as pupils that constrict with accommodation but do not constrict with exposure to light).
- Speech problems
- Abnormal facial expression with inability to smile or whistle
- Problems with co-ordination
- Absence of deep tendon reflexes
- Tingling and numbness on body causing patient to fall
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease

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).

Medical News Today
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Medscape (Professional level)
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Healthline
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EveryDay Health
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Pharmaceutical Journal (Professional level)
The Pharmaceutical Journal covers analysis, features, opinion, learning and careers articles, providing insight and knowledge about drugs, pharmacy practice, medicines use and healthcare policy in the context of the pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical science.
NHS
Find information and advice on health conditions, symptoms, healthy living, medicines and how to get help (British National Health Service).
WebMD
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Cleveland Clinic
Pushing the Standards of care.
Mayo Clinic
No.1 Hospital in the Nation (America)
Drugs.com
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National Organisation of Rare Diseases
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Verywell Health
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Nathnac
Travel health guidance for health professionals advising travellers and for travellers going overseas from the UK.
DR Axe
Health and fitness news. Recipes, Natural Remedies
Better health - NHS
Healthy changes start with little changes. Whether you want to lose weight, drink less alcohol, get active or quit smoking, you have access to lots of free tools and support through Better Health. You can also find simple ways to lift your mood with Every Mind Matters.

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