Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death. This toxin is made by Clostridium botulinum and sometimes Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium baratii bacteria. These bacteria can produce the toxin in food, wounds, and the intestines of infants.
 

The bacteria that make botulinum toxin are found naturally in many places, but it’s rare for them to make people sick. These bacteria make spores, which act like protective coatings. Spores help the bacteria survive in the environment, even in extreme conditions. The spores usually do not cause people to become sick, even when they’re eaten. But under certain conditions, these spores can grow and make one of the most lethal toxins known. The conditions in which the spores can grow and make toxin are:

 

Low-oxygen or no oxygen (anaerobic) environment

Low acid

Low sugar

Low salt

A certain temperature ranges

A certain amount of water

For example, improperly home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods can provide the right conditions for spores to grow and make botulinum toxin. When people eat these foods, they can become seriously ill, or even die, if they don’t get proper medical treatment quickly.

 

The five main kinds of botulism are:

 

• Infant botulism can happen if the spores of the bacteria get into an infant’s intestines. The spores grow and produce the toxin which causes illness.

• Wound botulism can happen if the spores of the bacteria get into a wound and make a toxin. People who inject drugs have a greater chance of getting wound botulism. Wound botulism has also occurred in people after a traumatic injury, such as a motorcycle accident, or surgery.

• Foodborne botulism can happen by eating foods that have been contaminated with botulinum toxin. Common sources of foodborne botulism are homemade foods that have been improperly canned, preserved, or fermented. Though uncommon, store-bought foods also can be contaminated with botulinum toxin.

• Iatrogenic botulism can happen if too much botulinum toxin is injected for cosmetic reasons, such as for wrinkles, or medical reasons, such as for migraine headaches.

• Adult intestinal toxemia (also known as adult intestinal colonization) botulism is a very rare kind of botulism that can happen if the spores of the bacteria get into an adult’s intestines, grow, and produce the toxin (like infant botulism). Although we don’t know why people get this kind of botulism, people who have serious health conditions that affect the gut may be more likely to get sick.

 

Signs and symptoms might include:

 

• Difficulty swallowing

• Muscle weakness

• Double vision

• Drooping eyelids

• Blurry vision

• Slurred speech

• Difficulty breathing

• Difficulty moving the eyes

 

Possible signs and symptoms in foodborne botulism might also include:

 

• Vomiting

• Nausea

• Stomach pain

• Diarrhea

 

Signs and symptoms in an infant might include:
 

• Constipation

• Poor feeding

• Drooping eyelids

• Pupils that are slow to react to light

• Face showing less expression than usual

• Weak cry that sounds different than usual

• Difficulty breathing

 

People with botulism might not have all these symptoms at the same time.

 

The symptoms all result from muscle paralysis caused by the toxin. If untreated, the disease may progress and symptoms may worsen to cause full paralysis of some muscles, including those used in breathing and those in the arms, legs, and trunk (part of the body from the neck to the pelvis area, also called the torso).

 

In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating a contaminated food.

 

Many cases of botulism are preventable.

 

Foodborne botulism

 

Many cases of foodborne botulism have happened after people ate home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods that were contaminated with toxin. The foods might have become contaminated if they were not canned (processed) correctly.
 

Foods with low acid content are the most common sources of home-canning related botulism cases. Examples of low-acid foods are:

 

• Asparagus

• Green beans

• Beets

• Corn

• Potatoes

• Canned veggies carrots corn green beans

 

Home Canning: Protect Yourself from Botulism

 

New sources of foodborne botulism continue to be identified. Contamination can happen when food is handled improperly when it is made, when it is stored, or when it is used by consumers. Some examples of foods that have been contaminated are:

 

• Chopped garlic in oil

• Canned cheese sauce

• Canned tomatoes

• Carrot juice

• Baked potatoes wrapped in foil

 

In Alaska, most cases of foodborne botulism are caused by fermented fish and other aquatic animals.

 

If you preserve, can, or ferment your own foods, you can reduce the chance of these foods giving you, your family, or friends botulism by:

 

Following safe home canning instructions as recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning

Following all instructions for washing, cleaning, and sterilizing items used in canning

Using pressure canners for low-acid foods like potatoes, most other vegetables, and meats

Everyone can reduce their chances of getting botulism by:

 

Refrigerating homemade oils infused with garlic or herbs and throwing away any unused oils after 4 days.

Keeping potatoes that have been baked while wrapped in aluminum foil hot (at temperatures above 140°F) until they are served or refrigerating them with the foil loosened.

Refrigerating any canned or pickled foods after you open them.

 

Wound Botulism

Prevent wound botulism by keeping wounds clean. If wounds appear infected, seek medical care quickly. A wound might be infected if it is:

 

• Red

• Swollen

• Painful

• Warm to the touch

• Full of pus or other drainage

• Accompanied by fever

 

Not all wounds with botulism show these general symptoms of a wound infection. If you have a wound and begin to have symptoms of botulism, seek medical care immediately.

 

People who inject illicit drugs, such as black tar heroin, are more likely to get wound botulism than people who do not inject drugs. People who get botulism from injecting illicit drugs might not have an obviously infected injection site. Learn more about preventing wound botulism caused by injecting drugs.

 

Wound botulism may happen after traumatic injuries, such as motorcycle crashes, and surgeries. Be alert to signs of infection.

 

Infant botulism

 

Several babies in Texas have become ill with infant botulism after using honey pacifiers. Do not give honey or products made with it, including honey pacifiers, to children younger than 12 months. 

 

Most infant botulism cases cannot be prevented because the bacteria that causes the disease is in soil and dust. The bacteria can be found inside homes on floors, carpet, and countertops—even after cleaning. For almost all children and adults who are healthy, ingesting botulism spores is not dangerous and will not cause botulism (it’s the toxin that is dangerous). For reasons we do not understand, some infants get botulism when the spores get into their digestive tracts, grow, and produce the toxin.

Honey can contain the bacteria that causes infant botulism, so do not feed honey to children younger than 12 months. Honey is safe for people 1 year of age and older. Learn more about infant botulism from the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program.

Iatrogenic botulism

 

You can prevent iatrogenic (an illness caused by medical examination or treatment) botulism by getting injections of botulinum toxin only by licensed practitioners:

 

If you need an injection of botulinum toxin for a medical condition, your doctor will choose the safest dose.

If you get an injection of botulinum toxin for cosmetic reasons, be sure to go to a licensed professional.

 

Adult intestinal colonization

 

Adult intestinal colonization (also called adult intestinal toxemia) is a very rare type of botulism. People who have health conditions that change the structure or proper workings of their intestines (gut) may be at higher risk. Only a handful of people have been diagnosed with adult intestinal toxemia, and scientists do not fully understand how a person gets this type of botulism. It may be like infant botulism, which cannot be prevented.