Botulism, a bacteria found naturally in the environment, has three primary infection types. Each is identified by the way it is contracted. According to eMedTV, infant botulism accounts for 75 percent of all cases each year. Wound and food-borne botulism make up the other primary forms of infection. EMedTV estimates that nine food-borne botulism outbreaks occur each year, with wound botulism even more infrequent. Symptoms of infection begin 18 to 36 hours after the bacteria reach the gut, but can occur as early as six hours or as late as 10 days.
Infant Botulism
A botulism infection in an infant begins with ingestion or inhalation of spores. Once inside the body, the spores reproduce within the gut and release the toxin responsible for the illness, the World Health Organization reports. This is not as likely to happen in children older than six months because the body's natural immune defenses fight against the reproduction of spores.
Symptoms of this type of botulism include constipation, reduced appetite, weakness, an unusual cry and severe loss of head control. The World Health Organization suggests that raw honey has been linked to infant botulism, and the agency has warned against feeding the substance to infants. As a child ages, she will be susceptible to botulism food poisoning or wound botulism just like any other person. Medical treatment for infants may require weeks or months of breathing assistance, eMedTV reports. Less than 2 percent of infants die from the illness.
Botulism Food Poisoning
Botulism food poisoning begins just like infant botulism, with the ingestion or inhalation of spores. Typical culprits for botulism spores include foods with low acid or foods that have been preserved and then are eaten without being properly cooked, the World Health Organization says. Such foods can include green beans, beets, corn or fish, eMedTV reports.
Early symptoms of botulism food poisoning include muscle weakness, double or blurred vision, trouble swallowing, eyelid dropping, dry mouth or slurred speech. In severe cases, a respiratory ventilator may be needed in addition to antitoxins to treat symptoms of the infection. A ventilator is necessary only in cases in which the infection is so severe that partial to complete paralysis has occurred and the patient is experiencing respiratory failure.
Wound Botulism
When botulism spores land on an open wound, they can have the same impact as ingestion or inhalation. Botulism of this kind is rare, according to the World Health Organization. Typical wounds associated with such an infection include serious injuries with large, open sections of flesh, or illicit drug use, states eMedTV. Some drugs, such as heroin, can be contaminated with botulism spores found naturally in the environment.
Symptoms of wound botulism are the same as any other type, but they may take up to two weeks to appear. If typical treatment does not resolve the problem, the infection may need to be removed from the gut through enemas, flushing, surgery or by inducing vomiting, eMedTV says.
