Botulism

What is botulism?

Botulism is a rare, but extremely deadly disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. Symptoms of botulism include vomiting and diarrhea followed by constipation. There are three types of botulism: food-borne botulism, wound botulism, and infant botulism. Food-borne botulism occurs because of improperly preserved or canned food. In incorrectly preserved or canned food, Clostridium Botulinum can leave behind spores that produce a toxin called botulinum toxin. Eating even just small amounts of this toxin can cause botulism within the victim’s body. In wound botulism, the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum enters a cut in a person’s body and botulinum toxin is produced. Infant botulism is the most common type of botulism and happens when Clostridium Botulinum grows spores in an infant’s intestinal tract. Infant botulism usually occurs in babies that are 2-8 months old.

How are botulism and canned food related?

Improperly canned food can contain the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. This bacteria can produce spores within the canned food. These spores release botulinum toxin, which if ingested, can cause botulism in a person’s body. The reason why Clostridium Botulinum is found in canned food is because this bacteria multiplies in oxygen- free environments and the sealed cans canned food is placed in provides this environment. Cans that are cracked, dented, or bulging indicate that these are improperly canned foods and unsafe to eat.

How serious is botulism?

Botulism is a very serious, dangerous illness. Botulinum toxin is a type of neurotoxin, so botulism can paralyze muscles. If not treated early, botulism can result in death. In fact, botulinum toxin is such a deadly substance that just 1 gram of it has the potential to kill approximately 1 million people. A public botulism outbreak can be reported to the United States Government. On average, 145 cases of botulism occur every year in the United States.

How can botulism be avoided?

Stay away from canned and preserved food because even though food-borne botulism is rare, there is still a chance that you might get this deadly illness because of improperly preserved or canned food. Most of the time, infant botulism, the most common type of botulism, cannot be prevented. Wound botulism can be avoided by immediately covering up a wound properly so that harmful bacteria, such as Clostridium Botulinum, cannot enter your body through the wound.