What is one of the greatest threats to human life? Infectious diseases, they have been affecting mankind since the dawn of time and Botulism is one of these diseases. Prompt diagnosis and correct treatment can lead to a full recovery, but if these steps aren’t taken botulism can become extremely fatal. The first recorded case of this deadly disease was in Wiband, Germany in the year 1793 (1,7-8). In this German town, 13 people ate blood sausages and they came down with botulism (1 7,8). Justinus Kerner did many experiments to find out why these sausages were so harmful to people, but he never did learn the truth of this fatal disease (1 8,10). Kerner’s disease, another name for botulinum, was named after Justinus for his hard work (1 8,10).
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When this bacteria is without oxygen it gives of toxins and grows (5,1). “Botulinum toxins are one of the most lethal substances known” (5,1). Clostridium botulinum is a rod shaped and a gram positive bacteria (2,2). It is found throughout the environment and is quite abundant (5,1). The toxin produced by this bacteria has no color, odor, and it is tasteless (1,23). Also, this bacteria is “heat-resistant” (5,1), but it doesn’t like acidic conditions (5,2). Overall there are 7 types or strains of botulism, A-F (2,2). The strains that infect humans are A,B,E, and F (2,2). The other three strains of botulism, C,D, and E, don’t affect humans, but do affect other mammals, fish, and birds (5,1). In infant botulism, children, usually under 1, swallow spores (1,40-41). These spores will then collect in the child’s intestines and produce toxin (1,40-41). This usually doesn't happen in adults or children over the age of 1 because “infants, however, have not yet developed these chemicals, which is why they are so vulnerable to infection” (1,40-41). In the case of wound botulism, whose number of cases has have grown in recent years, spores get into wounds and then toxin is produced (3,3). In all types of botulism respiratory and muscle paralysis can happen without treatment (5,1). This happens because “botulinum keeps the nerve endings from releasing acetylcholine. As a result, the muscle doesn't move …show more content…
Some of the early symptoms of this disease include weakness, fatigue and vertigo (5,1). After these symptoms other symptoms occur including hard time swallowing, dry mouth and blurred vision (5,1). Food botulism signs and symptoms are blurry vision, nausea, paralysis, blurry vision, and facial weakness (3,1-2). Symptoms for food botulism usually start to happen in 12-36 hours but can appear in as little as 6 hours or as long as 10 days (2,2)(3,1). Some wound botulism symptoms which are similar to food botulism signs are droopy eyelids, double vision, facial weakness, and paralysis (3,2). It’s hard to know exactly how long before symptoms can occur with wound botulism because people can inject multiple times a day, but symptoms can manifest themselves up to two weeks later (3,2)(5,3). Symptoms for infant botulism are constipation, bad gag reflex, lethargy, and poor eating (9,1). Some of the latest symptoms to occur are neck and/or arm weakness, lower body and respiratory muscle weakness (5,2). Signs and symptoms not usually associated with botulism are fever, high heart rate, and high blood pressure (3,2). The parts of the body that are affected are arms, respiratory muscles, and legs and also it goes after the nervous system (6,514)(2,2)(1,26)(8,31). This is an acute and lethal disease. The morbidity rate for botulism is about 110 reported case every year in
When this bacteria is without oxygen it gives of toxins and grows (5,1). “Botulinum toxins are one of the most lethal substances known” (5,1). Clostridium botulinum is a rod shaped and a gram positive bacteria (2,2). It is found throughout the environment and is quite abundant (5,1). The toxin produced by this bacteria has no color, odor, and it is tasteless (1,23). Also, this bacteria is “heat-resistant” (5,1), but it doesn’t like acidic conditions (5,2). Overall there are 7 types or strains of botulism, A-F (2,2). The strains that infect humans are A,B,E, and F (2,2). The other three strains of botulism, C,D, and E, don’t affect humans, but do affect other mammals, fish, and birds (5,1). In infant botulism, children, usually under 1, swallow spores (1,40-41). These spores will then collect in the child’s intestines and produce toxin (1,40-41). This usually doesn't happen in adults or children over the age of 1 because “infants, however, have not yet developed these chemicals, which is why they are so vulnerable to infection” (1,40-41). In the case of wound botulism, whose number of cases has have grown in recent years, spores get into wounds and then toxin is produced (3,3). In all types of botulism respiratory and muscle paralysis can happen without treatment (5,1). This happens because “botulinum keeps the nerve endings from releasing acetylcholine. As a result, the muscle doesn't move …show more content…
Some of the early symptoms of this disease include weakness, fatigue and vertigo (5,1). After these symptoms other symptoms occur including hard time swallowing, dry mouth and blurred vision (5,1). Food botulism signs and symptoms are blurry vision, nausea, paralysis, blurry vision, and facial weakness (3,1-2). Symptoms for food botulism usually start to happen in 12-36 hours but can appear in as little as 6 hours or as long as 10 days (2,2)(3,1). Some wound botulism symptoms which are similar to food botulism signs are droopy eyelids, double vision, facial weakness, and paralysis (3,2). It’s hard to know exactly how long before symptoms can occur with wound botulism because people can inject multiple times a day, but symptoms can manifest themselves up to two weeks later (3,2)(5,3). Symptoms for infant botulism are constipation, bad gag reflex, lethargy, and poor eating (9,1). Some of the latest symptoms to occur are neck and/or arm weakness, lower body and respiratory muscle weakness (5,2). Signs and symptoms not usually associated with botulism are fever, high heart rate, and high blood pressure (3,2). The parts of the body that are affected are arms, respiratory muscles, and legs and also it goes after the nervous system (6,514)(2,2)(1,26)(8,31). This is an acute and lethal disease. The morbidity rate for botulism is about 110 reported case every year in