Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a bacterium which occurs in soil. It produces a toxin that affects your nerves. Foodborne botulism comes from eating foods contaminated with the toxin.
Sources
Infants: Honey, home-canned vegetables and fruits, corn syrup
Children and adults: Home-canned foods with a low acid content, improperly canned commercial foods, home-canned or fermented fish, herb-infused oils, baked potatoes in aluminum foil, cheese sauce, bottled garlic, foods held warm for extended periods of time
Incubation Period
Infants: 3-30 days
Children and adults: 12-72 hours
Symptoms
Infants: Lethargy, weakness, poor feeding, constipation, poor head control, poor gag and sucking reflex
Children and adults: Double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness
Duration of Illness
Variable
What Do I Do?
Botulism is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of botulism, contact your doctor immediately.
How Do I Prevent It?
Be very careful when canning foods at home
Do not let babies eat honey
Get prompt medical care for infected wounds
General Information
Botulism (NIH MedlinePlus) Trusted health information on causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
Botulism (CDC) General information on diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and more.
Clostridium botulinum (FDA) From the Bad Bug Book; provides basic facts, including associated foods, frequency of disease, complications, and target populations.
