Presentation
Presented in an easy-to-use double-page spread format, highly bulleted and concise, the Oxford Desk Reference: Toxicology is ideal for quick referral when an acute problem arises. [books.google.com]
Typical presentation is afebrile, descending symmetrical flaccid paralysis, which spares sensory nerves (2). Wounds may not be obviously infected. [icmcasesummaries.com]
We report a case of wound botulism and discuss the presenting features that should alert the emergency physician to the diagnosis of wound botulism. [emj.bmj.com]
Conclusions: An aerosolized or foodborne botulinum toxin weapon would cause acute symmetric, descending flaccid paralysis with prominent bulbar palsies such as diplopia, dysarthria, dysphonia, and dysphagia that would typically present 12 to 72 hours [experts.umn.edu]
Respiratoric
- Dyspnea
Airway irritation Eye and skin irritation Dyspnea, cough Sore throat Chest tightness Wheezing Bronchospasm Immediate to 3 hours Non-persistent and an inhalation hazard. [en.wikipedia.org]
Gastrointestinal
- Constipation
Infant botulism The symptoms of infant botulism usually begin with constipation. [your.md]
C. botulinum in infants include constipation, loss of appetite, weakness, an altered cry and a striking loss of head control. [who.int]
An almost universal symptom of progressing botulism is constipation. Deep tendon reflexes will diminish along with the corresponding paralysis levels. [physio-pedia.com]
Infants with botulism appear lethargic, feed poorly, are constipated, and have a weak cry and poor muscle tone. [michigan.gov]
Infant botulism The symptoms of infant botulism usually begin with constipation (difficulty passing faeces). [hse.ie]
- Diarrhea
Ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea for 1 to 2 days. Inhalation causes cough, chest pain, and often nasal irritation and congestion. Eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) can result from contact of the aerosol with the eyes. [merckmanuals.com]
Inactivates enzyme acetylcholinesterase, preventing the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the victim's synapses and causing both muscarinic and nicotinic effects Miosis (pinpoint pupils) Blurred/dim vision Headache Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea [en.wikipedia.org]
[…] classic symptoms of such exposure, including longer term debilitation as found among chemical victims from World War I. 16 The most common long-term symptoms reported by veterans are fatigue, rashes, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea [cia.gov]
Eyes
- Blurred Vision
Signs and Symptoms The classic symptoms of botulism include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. [viceprovost.tufts.edu]
Prominent neurologic findings in all forms of botulism include ptsosis, diplopia, blurred vision, dysarthria and dysphagia. Patients typically are afebrile and do not have an altered level of consciousness. [jhsph.edu]
Symptoms include double and/or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred and/or disturbed speech, difficulty swallowing solid food, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. [michigan.gov]
Symptoms and signs(3) Cranial nerves: Diplopia, blurred vision, photophobia, ptosis, dilated pupils, nystagmus, facial weakness, dysphagia, dysarthria, dysphonia Peripheries: Weakness in the neck and arms followed by respiratory muscles and lower body [icmcasesummaries.com]
Sagging eyelids, double vision, and blurred vision are common. Botulism is frequently misdiagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome, stroke, or other diseases of the central nervous system. [centerforhealthsecurity.org]
- Diplopia
Situations suggesting release of botulinum toxin as a biological weapon: (1) Outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis with prominent bulbar palsies (diplopia, dysarthria, dysphonia, dysphagia) in patients who are afebrile and with a clear sensorium. (2) Outbreak [meducator3.net]
Conclusions: An aerosolized or foodborne botulinum toxin weapon would cause acute symmetric, descending flaccid paralysis with prominent bulbar palsies such as diplopia, dysarthria, dysphonia, and dysphagia that would typically present 12 to 72 hours [experts.umn.edu]
A young female IV drug abuser presented with dysarthria, diplopia and weakness with loss of her gag reflex. She had recently had an abscess wound on her arm debrided. She was intubated for airway protection, and underwent early tracheostomy. [icmcasesummaries.com]
Prominent neurologic findings in all forms of botulism include ptsosis, diplopia, blurred vision, dysarthria and dysphagia. Patients typically are afebrile and do not have an altered level of consciousness. [jhsph.edu]
[…] reported to the Public Health Unit if there is clinical evidence regardless of whether there is laboratory definitive evidence for botulism or if identified as a case of acute flaccid paralysis Clinical evidence A clinically compatible illness (eg. diplopia [health.qld.gov.au]
Neurologic
- Flaccid Paralysis
Situations suggesting release of botulinum toxin as a biological weapon: (1) Outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis with prominent bulbar palsies (diplopia, dysarthria, dysphonia, dysphagia) in patients who are afebrile and with a clear sensorium. (2) Outbreak [meducator3.net]
Conclusions: An aerosolized or foodborne botulinum toxin weapon would cause acute symmetric, descending flaccid paralysis with prominent bulbar palsies such as diplopia, dysarthria, dysphonia, and dysphagia that would typically present 12 to 72 hours [experts.umn.edu]
It presents with an afebrile, descending, symmetrical, flaccid paralysis of motor and autonomic but not sensory nerves. Respiratory failure can occur rapidly with little prior ventilatory deterioration. [emj.bmj.com]
A release of aerosolized botulinum toxin would likely result in an outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis (sudden, profound muscle weakness) among persons in the same geographic area who have had no obvious common dietary exposure. [centerforhealthsecurity.org]
Flaccid paralysis continues, symmetrical and descending. There is no fever and no loss of consciousness. Paralysis of respiratory muscles can cause respiratory arrest and death without mechanical ventilation. [health.qld.gov.au]
- Irritability
Inhalation causes cough, chest pain, and often nasal irritation and congestion. Eye inflammation (conjunctivitis) can result from contact of the aerosol with the eyes. Inhalation can rarely cause death. [merckmanuals.com]
Airway irritation Eye and skin irritation Dyspnea, cough Sore throat Chest tightness Wheezing Bronchospasm Immediate to 3 hours Non-persistent and an inhalation hazard. [en.wikipedia.org]
This may last for several days before the baby starts to have neurological symptoms such as: an inability to suck a floppy head floppy muscles weak crying tiredness irritability poor reflexes heavy eyelids and flat, unfocused eyes Causes Botulism is caused [your.md]
Studies suggest that following inhalational exposure, there would be an irritant upper airway prodrome followed by variable onset of different degrees of paralysis in different people. [health.qld.gov.au]
This may last for several days before the infant begins to have neurological symptoms, such as: an inability to suck a floppy head floppy muscles weak crying tiredness irritability poor reflexes heavy eyelids and flat, unfocused eyes Bacteria Bacteria [hse.ie]
- Dysarthria
Situations suggesting release of botulinum toxin as a biological weapon: (1) Outbreak of acute flaccid paralysis with prominent bulbar palsies (diplopia, dysarthria, dysphonia, dysphagia) in patients who are afebrile and with a clear sensorium. (2) Outbreak [meducator3.net]
Conclusions: An aerosolized or foodborne botulinum toxin weapon would cause acute symmetric, descending flaccid paralysis with prominent bulbar palsies such as diplopia, dysarthria, dysphonia, and dysphagia that would typically present 12 to 72 hours [experts.umn.edu]
A young female IV drug abuser presented with dysarthria, diplopia and weakness with loss of her gag reflex. She had recently had an abscess wound on her arm debrided. She was intubated for airway protection, and underwent early tracheostomy. [icmcasesummaries.com]
Prominent neurologic findings in all forms of botulism include ptsosis, diplopia, blurred vision, dysarthria and dysphagia. Patients typically are afebrile and do not have an altered level of consciousness. [jhsph.edu]
Other early symptoms: dysarthria, a lack of sweating, severe dry mouth and throat, and finally postural hypotension. Food-borne botulism may initially present with nausea and vomiting. [physio-pedia.com]
- Agitation
Due to the paralysis of voluntary musculature the patient may not show signs of agitation with respiratory arrest, such as gasping, thrashing, or flailing. [physio-pedia.com]
Workup
Microbiology
- Staphylococcus Aureus
Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is one of 7 enterotoxins (toxins acting in the intestine) produced by the bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B is responsible for staphylococcal food poisoning when ingested. [merckmanuals.com]
- Clostridium Perfringens
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Botulinum toxin Epsilon toxin from Clostridium perfringens Ricin toxin Staphylococcal enterotoxin B Of these, only botulinum toxin is classified among the highest priority agents. [merckmanuals.com]
Treatment
"Treatment with anti-toxin should not be delayed for microbiological testing." The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. [upi.com]
Treatment with antitoxin should not be delayed for microbiological testing. [experts.umn.edu]
In 2003, the FDA approved human botulinum immune globulin (BabyBIG) for the treatment of infant botulism. There is no antitoxin, to date, for type H botulism. [centerforhealthsecurity.org]
Botox treatments employ the purified and heavily diluted botulinum neurotoxin type A. [who.int]
Treatment Foodborne, inhalation, intestinal and wound botulism: supportive treatment with access to intensive care management, and antitoxin In addition for wound botulism surgical treatment of contaminated wound, and appropriate antibiotics to prevent [health.qld.gov.au]
Prognosis
The prognosis is excellent for infants who received the human derived antitoxin. [physio-pedia.com]
Etiology
Etiology/Causes Clostridium botulinum [1] A gram-positive bacteria that produces spores anaerobically. This bacteria is found globally in soil and aquatic sediments. [8] Produces 7 immunologically distinct toxins designated by letters A-G. [physio-pedia.com]
Epidemiology
Offers an overview of botulism, including pathogenesis, microbiology, and epidemiology, and provides current news items, images, and resources related to bioterrorism. [osha.gov]
Effective response to a deliberate release of botulinum toxin will depend on timely clinical diagnosis, case reporting, and epidemiological investigation. [experts.umn.edu]
Effective response to a deliberate release of botulinum toxin will depend on timely clinical diagnosis, case reporting and epidemiological investigation. [upi.com]
National Surveillance Team – Enteric Diseases Epidemiology Branch. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nationalsurveillance/botulism-surveillance.html Updated May 12, 2017. Accessed January 25, 2018. [rarediseases.org]
March 8, 2006. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Shapiro R, Hatheway C, Swerdlow D: Botulism in the United States: A clinical study and epidemiologic review. Annals of Internal Medicine. August 1998; 129: 221-228 ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Cox N, Hinkle R. [physio-pedia.com]
Prevention
Arnon of the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program and colleagues at the California Department of Health Services, Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies, Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, U.S. [upi.com]
Prevention Prevention of foodborne botulism is based on good practice in food preparation particularly during heating/sterilization and hygiene. [who.int]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) 50(41);893-7, (October 19, 2001). [osha.gov]
[…] that uses a combination of antibodies to treat or, possibly, prevent botulism. [dana.org]
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Botulism webpage at www.cdc.gov/botulism. [michigan.gov]