Botulism is also known as botulism poisoning, this is a rare and serious disease caused by a bacterial (Clostridium botulinum) infection. Which occurs through food or through wounds. Botulism can take three different forms:
The disease is quite symptomatic and causes trouble swallowing and speaking, trouble breathing, drooping eyelids, blurred and double vision, dry mouth, weakness in facial muscles, nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps and paralysis . These are all the result of foodborne vegetation. Wound-borne botulism causes the same symptoms. Infant botulism shows such symptoms in the body of the child once the toxin remains in the body for more than 18 hours. The infant suffers from constipation, irritability, drooping and drooping eyelids, fatigue, difficulty in sucking and crying, weak crying and floppy movements and paralysis due to weak muscles.
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Botulism can result in death if left untreated. Patients affected by botulism will need to be hospitalized. Babies are treated with botulism immune globulin intravenous-human, which is called BabyBig or Big V. If respiratory problems occur, patients will need to be put on ventilators for various weeks and months along with intensive care and nursing. Patients are given antitoxin injections and sometimes even with antibiotics to prevent secondary infection. Surgery may also be required to remove the infection from the wounds.
How is botulism treated?
Botulism should be treated as soon as possible after the disease is detected. If it is a case of foodborne botulism, it is treated by cleansing the digestive system with the help of a medicine called Enema. Enema is used to induce bowel discomfort and vomiting so that the toxins can be cleared from the intestines as quickly as possible.In the event that the disease is in the injury, it is eliminated carefully by surgery. An early diagnosis of botulism helps in clearing the toxin quickly with the help of an antitoxin. The immunizing agent responds with the poison in the circulation system and prevents it from influencing the nerves.
Due to the regenerative properties of nerves, antitoxin treatment is considered helpful, as nerves that have already been damaged by such toxin tend to regenerate. This antitoxin is mainly derived from horse and is known as equine immunoglobulin. It has been found unsafe for the treatment of botulism in infants, therefore, infants are treated with another antitoxin obtained from humans. Antibiotics like penicillin C and metronidazole are only used to treat wound botulism. Breathing is used if the muscles of the lungs are affected. Patients are kept on mechanical ventilation until conditions improve. Therapy may be required to improve speech, help with swallowing and to help other parts of the body function properly.
Due to the regenerative properties of nerves, antitoxin treatment is considered helpful, as nerves that have already been damaged by such toxin tend to regenerate. This antitoxin is mainly derived from horse and is known as equine immunoglobulin. It has been found unsafe for the treatment of botulism in infants, therefore, infants are treated with another antitoxin obtained from humans. Antibiotics like penicillin C and metronidazole are only used to treat wound botulism. Breathing is used if the muscles of the lungs are affected. Patients are kept on mechanical ventilation until conditions improve. Therapy may be required to improve speech, help with swallowing and to help other parts of the body function properly.
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Who is eligible for the treatment of botulism? (When is the treatment done?)
Anyone with symptoms of weak muscles, drooping eyelids, impaired speech and paralysis should get checked by a doctor. On diagnosing the presence of the poison in the body, the individual becomes qualified for botulism treatment.
Who is not eligible for the treatment?
If no botulinum toxin is found in the body upon diagnosis, then the person will not be eligible for treatment for botulism.
Are there any side effects?
There are usually no side effects for treating botulism. Antitoxin treatment is considered to be quite safe and effective. Only antibiotic treatment should be given to caregivers with wound botulism patients as in other types it can increase the release of toxins in the body.
What are the post treatment guidelines?
After the treatment procedures, patients are subjected to rehabilitation during the recovery phase, in which they are helped to improve their swallowing, speech and other functions of muscles and nerves.
It takes several months to fully recover from botulism after receiving treatment.
Are the results of the treatment permanent?
Yes, the results of the treatment are permanent unless the patient is again affected by the bacteria later in life.
What are the treatment options?
There is no alternative treatment for botulism. But botulism can be prevented. The toxins are reported to be destroyed when subjected to high temperatures. Hence, it is advised to boil home canned foods before consuming it. Foods with foul smell, those with expiry dates and foods kept at the wrong temperature should be avoided. Honey should not be fed to babies below the age of 12 months as honey contains C. botulinum has spores and is infected with the toxin.
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