Definition of Botulism
Botulism: An uncommon but potentially very serious illness, a type of food poisoning, that produces paralysis of
muscles, via a nerve toxin called botulinum toxin ("botox") that is manufactured by bacteria named Clostridium botulinum.
There are various types of botulism, including:
- Food-borne botulism -- from eating food that contains
the botulinum toxin.
- Wound botulism -- caused by the toxin produced in a wound
infected with the bacteria Clostridium botulinum.
- Infant intestinal botulism -- when an infant consumes the spores of the bacteria, the bacteria grow in the baby's intestines and release toxin.
- Adult intestinal botulism -- due to infection with Clostridium
botulinum in adults, typically following abdominal surgical procedures.
The symptoms of botulism can range from mild, including transient nausea and vomiting, to severe cases that progress to heart and lung failure and, sometimes, death. Food-borne botulism occurs typically in unrefrigerated or poorly refrigerated foods and foods without preservatives (especially uncooked or half-cooked meats). It can be prevented by careful use of refrigeration and preservative techniques, and the toxin can be destroyed with heat.
Clostridium botulin and botulinum toxin might, it is feared, be misused as agents of bioterrorism.
Last Editorial Review: 10/24/2001
- Electromyogram (EMG) - EMG (electromyogram) can detect abnormal muscle electrical activity in conditions such as neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, pinched nerves, herniated discs, peripheral nerve damage, ALS, and more.
- Food Poisoning - Read about the types of food poisoning from bacterium infection from Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria, and botulism. Symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention information is included in the information.
- Botox - Botox is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.Small, diluted amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles causing controlled weakening of the muscles.
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