Botulism is a potentially life-threatening condition that affects the nervous system. Caused by infection with toxins from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria, botulism occurs in both infants and adults. C. botulinum bacteria can enter the body through several routes, including superficial skin wounds, consumption of contaminated food sources and through intravenous and inhaled drug use.
Honey and Syrup
Honey is a known cause of infant botulism--a form of botulism that usually occurs when a child is between the ages of 2 and 6 months. According to the Mayo Clinic, honey can contain spores that produce the C. botulinum bacteria. Once ingested, the bacteria release toxins in the infant's bloodstream, causing an extremely serious case of food poisoning. Corn syrup and other foods that are home-grown and canned may also contain these dangerous spores. Consequently, infants under 1 year of age should not consume these food products.
Other Food Products
Foodborne botulism is a type of botulism caused by eating food products contaminated with the C. botulinum bacteria or its spores. The Mayo Clinic reports that home-canned foods low in acid, including beets, green beans and corn, as well as other foods like baked potatoes, garlic-infused oils and chili peppers, are known sources of the bacteria. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the foods most frequently causing human botulism include meat products, sausage, seafood products and vegetables.
Environmental Causes
According to the Food and Drug Administration, C. botulinum bacteria and its spores live in dust particles, the soil and in the sediment of streams, coastal waters and lakes. Because infants are likely to play outdoors in the dirt, soil or water and subsequently put their hands in their mouths, they may contract botulism through the environment.
Wounds
Wound botulism--the rarest type of botulism, according to the Food and Drug Adminstration--occurs when C. botulinum bacteria enter a person's body via a scrape, cut or scratch on the skin. Once in the body, the bacteria produce toxins that spread through the bloodstream and cause serious illness. In some cases, these wound sites are so small that a person does not notice the injury, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Illicit drug use can also cause wound botulism. For example, C. botulinum bacteria can enter the body through an injection wound created from intravenous administration of heroin. Spores can also enter the body through the nose with inhaled use of drugs such as cocaine.
Other Causes in Adults
According to the Food and Drug Administration, food contamination and wound infection do not explain all known cases of botulism. Some evidence suggests that changes to the gastrointestinal tract following treatment with antibiotics or surgery may shift the normal balance of normal digestive flora in the gut. This in turn creates an environment where C. botulinum bacteria grow in the intestinal tract and subsequently cause illness in the affected individual.
