Botulism
Clostridium-botulinum is found in soil and untreated water throughout the world. It produces spore that survive in improperly preserved or canned food, where they produce toxin. When eaten, even tiny amounts of this toxin can lead to severe poisoning.
The foods most commonly contaminated are home-canned vegetables, cured pork and ham, smoked or raw fish, and honey or corn syrup. Botulism may also occur if the organism enters open wounds and produces toxin there.
Infant botulism is a special type in which living bacteria or its spores are eaten and grow within the infant's gastrointestinal tract. The most common cause of infant botulism is eating honey or corn syrup.
Clostridium-botulinum also occurs normally in the stool of some infants.
[FONT="]Treatment: [/FONT][FONT="]For cases of food-borne botulism, doctors sometimes clear out the digestive system by inducing vomiting and giving medications to induce bowel movements. If you have botulism in a wound, a doctor may need to remove infected tissue surgically. [/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]Antitoxin[/FONT][FONT="]: If you're diagnosed early with food-borne or wound botulism, injected antitoxin reduces your chances of complications. The antitoxin attaches itself to toxin that's still circulating in your bloodstream and keeps it from harming your nerves. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Antitoxin is not, however, recommended for cases of infant botulism, since it doesn't affect the disease-causing germs in the baby's digestive system. A treatment called botulism immune globulin has been investigated to treat infants. It appears effective in reducing the duration and severity of the illness. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Breathing assistance[/FONT][FONT="]: If you're having trouble breathing, you will probably need a mechanical ventilator. The ventilator forces air into your lungs through a tube inserted in your airway through your nose or mouth. You may remain on the ventilator for up to several weeks as the effects of the toxin gradually lessen. [/FONT]