On average, about 110 cases of botulism are reported every year. This is a relatively low number, but in most cases it's preventable. This page is designed to bring awareness to the dangers of botulism and specifically how it can be avoided in infants.

Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death. This toxin is made by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. These bacteria can produce the toxin in food, wounds, and the intestines of infants. In infants, the most common way this toxin is found is from uncooked fruits, vegetables, and raw honey.

 Symptoms

Some symptoms of botulism are as follows:

• Difficulty swallowing. 

• Muscle weakness. 

• Double vision. 

• Drooping eyelids. 

• Blurry vision. 

• Slurred speech. 

• Difficulty breathing. 

• Difficulty moving the eyes. 

• Paralysis  

To learn more, follow the links below:

The History of Botulism

The Science of Botulism

Information for Parents

Project sources:

Botulism. Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. (n.d.). https://gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/storms-disasters/botulism

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 31). Infant botulism: Information for clinicians. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/infant-botulism.html

Hirsch, L. (Ed.). (2023, March). Infant botulism (for parents) - nemours kidshealth. KidsHealth. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/botulism.html

Sterba, J. P. (1982, April 28). The history of botulism. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1982/04/28/garden/the-history-of-botulism.html

Welcome to the infant botulism treatment and prevention program. Welcome to the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program. (n.d.). https://www.infantbotulism.org/