Botulism is a type of bacterial illness caused by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This condition is rare and only accounts for about 145 cases of food poisoning each year in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms of botulism include slurred speech, vision problems and muscular weakness with possible paralysis. Infants experience symptoms of lethargy and constipation. The bacteria enter the body through contaminated food or open wound.
Improperly Canned Foods
Fruits and vegetables, particularly those canned or preserved at home, may cause botulism. This usually happens as a result of poor canning techniques. Foods with low acid, such as green beans and corn, have a higher incidence of bacteria. Cooking the foods at high temperatures decreases the chance of the bacteria developing. If the food is not heated properly, the toxins build in the food during storage. Environments with low oxygen levels, such as canned goods, allow the toxins to thrive, according to the Mayo Clinic. The botulism poisonings occur after eating the contaminated food.
Infant Botulism
Infants are more likely to develop botulism than adults. The most common source of botulism in infants is honey or corn syrup. Infants are also susceptible to bacteria spores from soil. Giving an infant honey before they are at least 1-year-old increases the risk of developing the illness. As a child grows, the intestinal tract has the ability to handle the bacteria without causing the poisoning, according to KidsHealth from Nemours. The botulinum bacteria may naturally occur in some infant stool, according to the Mayo Clinic. Contact with this stool without proper hand washing can transmit an infection.
Wounds
Wounds may contain the botulinum bacteria. The bacteria spores from soil can infect open wounds. Individuals who inject heroin into a vein have a higher risk of contracting botulism as well as this drug can contain the bacterial spore, according to the Mayo Clinic. After the bacteria enter the body, the symptoms are the same for food-related infections.
