The Mayo Clinic describes botulism as a muscle-paralyzing disease caused by a bacterial toxin. According to MedlinePlus, the toxin produced by the bacteria affects the nerves, preventing them from adequately directing muscle movement, which causes paralysis. The bacteria that produce the toxin live in the soil, but the spores of the bacteria can also be present in dust that becomes airborne, where the bacteria can be inhaled or ingested. Merck Manuals, MedlinePlus, and Mayo Clinic describe three types of botulism: foodborne, wound and infant.
Foodborne
Foodborne botulism occurs when bacteria or their toxins contaminate food that is ingested. According to Mayo Clinic, the first signs of foodborne botulism occur between 12 and 36 hours after ingestion of contaminated food. Merck Manuals report that the first symptoms of foodborne botulism are usually gastrointestinal (GI) in nature and include nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Following the GI symptoms, neurological symptoms appear. MedlinePlus describes these symptoms as muscle weakness and paralysis. Other symptoms that occur with foodborne botulism include slurred speech, droopy eyelids, difficulty swallowing and blurred or double vision.
Wound
Wound botulism occurs when the bacteria gets into an open wound or cut. The toxin the bacteria produces then travels from the wound to the blood stream and causes the symptoms of botulism. However, wound botulism is slightly different from foodborne botulism because persons affected by wound botulism experience no GI symptoms but rather only the neurological effects of the toxin. Mayo Clinic reports that the first symptoms of wound botulism typically appear 10 days after bacterial infection. Mayo Clinic states that the incidence of wound botulism is on the rise due to people injecting heroin with contaminated needles.
Infant
According to Mayo Clinic, infants can be affected by botulism after consuming bacterial spores, which then grow in the intestine and produce toxins. MedlinePlus reports that the source of bacterial spores that give rise to infant botulism is often honey. The first sign of infant botulism is often constipation, occurring during a similar time frame as foodborne botulism: 12 to 36 hours. Constipation is then followed by floppy movements (because of weak muscles), droopy eyelids, tiredness, paralysis and a weak cry.
