Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
What is botulism?
Botulism is a rare but serious illness. Botulism is caused by a toxin (poison) produced
by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This toxin affects your nerves and, if untreated,
can cause paralysis and respiratory failure.
How do we get foodborne botulism?
Foodborne botulism is caused by ingesting the toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium
botulinum in foods that have not been properly handled or canned.
Cases of foodborne botulism often originate with improperly home-canned foods with low
acid content, such as asparagus, green beans, beets, and corn.
Outbreaks of botulism have also been associated with commercially produced foods such as sausages,
meats, seafood products, baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil but not kept hot, and tomatoes.
What are the symptoms of foodborne botulism?
The most frequent symptoms include:
• Double vision/drooping eyelids.
• Slurred speech.
• Dry mouth and difficulty chewing/swallowing.
• Weak muscles.
• Difficulty in breathing.
• Abdominal cramps.
Symptoms of foodborne botulism usually begin within 18 to 36 hours after you eat contaminated
food, but can occur in as few as 6 hours or as long as 10 days afterward.
How is foodborne botulism diagnosed?
Your health care provider can diagnose foodborne botulism by noting your clinical history and
performing a physical exam. Laboratory tests are used to identify the
C. botulinum toxin in your blood or stool if you are infected.
How is foodborne botulism treated?
If the illness is diagnosed early, your health care provider can treat you successfully with
an antitoxin that blocks the action of the bacterial toxin circulating in your blood.
This antitoxin keeps the disease from becoming worse, but it may still take many weeks before
you recover.
How can you help prevent foodborne botulism?
To prevent getting foodborne botulism, you should:
• Not purchase canned-foods that are dented.
• Refrigerate oils containing garlic or herbs.
• Keep baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil hot until served or refrigerated.
• Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator rather than at room temperature.
• Follow strict hygienic steps when canning foods at home.
• Boil home-canned foods for 10 minutes before eating to reduce the risk of illness.
What are the complications of foodborne botulism?
If left untreated, botulism can paralyze your arms, legs, trunk, and the muscles that help
you breathe. The paralysis usually improves slowly over
several weeks. People who develop severe botulism experience
breathing failure and paralysis and need to be put on ventilators (breathing machines).
For more information or referral please call the National Hispanic Family Health Helpline
at 1-866-783-2645.