Botulism

Botulism is a very rare but life-threatening condition caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

These toxins are some of the most powerful known to science. They attack the nervous system (nerves, brain and spinal cord) and cause paralysis (muscle weakness).

Most people will make a full recovery with treatment, but the paralysis can spread to the muscles that control breathing if it isn't treated quickly. This is fatal in around 5 to 10% of cases.

Symptoms of botulism

The time it takes to develop symptoms can vary from a few hours to several days after exposure to the Clostridium botulinum bacteria or their toxins.

Depending on the exact type of botulism, some people initially have symptoms such as feeling sick, being sick (vomiting), stomach cramps, diarrhoea or constipation.

Without treatment, botulism eventually causes paralysis that spreads down the body from the head to the legs.

Symptoms can include:

• drooping eyelids
• blurred or double vision
• facial muscle weakness
• difficulty swallowing
• slurred speech
• breathing difficulties

Affected babies may also have a weak cry, find it difficult to feed, and have a floppy head, neck and limbs.

When to get medical advice

Botulism is a very serious condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Go to your nearest A&E department or immediately dial 999 if you or someone you know has symptoms of botulism.

Treatment is more effective the earlier it's started.

Causes and types of botulism

Clostridium botulinum bacteria are found in soil, dust and river or sea sediments.

The bacteria themselves aren't harmful, but they can produce highly poisonous toxins when deprived of oxygen, such as in closed cans or bottles, stagnant soil or mud, or occasionally, the human body.

There are 3 main types of botulism:

• food-borne botulism – when someone eats food containing the toxins because it hasn't been properly canned, preserved or cooked
• wound botulism – when a wound becomes infected with the bacteria, usually as a result of injecting illegal drugs like heroin contaminated with the bacteria into muscle rather than a vein
• infant botulism – when a baby swallows a resistant form of the bacteria, called a spore, in contaminated soil or food, such as honey (these spores are harmless to older children and adults because the body develops defences against them from about the age of 1)

All these types of botulism are very rare in the UK, but occasional cases do occur.

Treatment for botulism

Botulism needs to be treated in hospital.

The way it's treated depends on the type of botulism, but usually involves:

• neutralising the toxins with injections of special antitoxins or antibodies
• supporting the functions of the body, such as breathing, until you recover

Treatment won't reverse any paralysis that's already been caused by the toxin, but will stop it getting any worse.

In most people, paralysis that occurred before treatment will gradually improve over the following weeks or months.

Preventing botulism

As a result of high standards of food hygiene in the UK, the chances of getting food-borne botulism from food bought in this country are tiny.

There's a slightly higher risk if you produce your own food, particularly if this involves canning.

But following food hygiene procedures and canning recommendations will reduce any risk.

Don't eat food from bulging or damaged cans, and avoid eating foul-smelling preserved foods, foods stored at the incorrect temperature, and out-of-date foods.

Heroin users should avoid injecting heroin into their muscles. Injecting heroin into a vein or smoking it can reduce the risk of botulism, although not using heroin at all is by far the best course of action.

Find out how to get help to stop using heroin

In many cases of infant botulism, the specific cause isn't identified so it may not always be possible to prevent it.

But you should avoid giving babies under the age of 1 honey as it's been known to contain Clostridium botulinum spores.