The General Directorate of Public Health of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) investigates a case of possible infant botulism in a four-month-old baby who is admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Maternal and Child University Hospital of the Canary Islands, in Gran Canaria.
As reported by the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands, the patient is undergoing the pertinent study to rule out infant botulism and the samples will be sent to the National Center for Microbiology, in Madrid, for study.
The case under investigation the Ministry of Health and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control will be notified (ECDC), as indicated by the protocols.
What is infant botulism?
Infant botulism is a neurological disordercaused by the release of toxins in vivo from the germination and multiplication of spores of Clostridium botulinumin the infant intestine.
These are not harmful to adults with a high level of gastric acidity and protective bacteria in their intestines. However, in infants these spores infect, germinate, and are released in the colon.
The danger of this toxin is that it affects the nervous system and can cause paralysis in the muscles responsible for breathingbecoming fatal if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
Although affects almost exclusively children under one year of ageit can also appear in older children and adults with alterations in intestinal anatomy and microflora.
Most frequent symptoms
The The most common symptoms of infant botulism are constipation, muscle weakness, and head control problemsweak crying, irritability, constant drooling, drooping eyelids, tiredness, difficulty sucking or feeding, and paralysis.
These they usually begin between 12 and 36 hours after the toxin enters the baby’s body.
Honey and dust, the main causes
The two potential sources of infection, clearly recognized in the scientific literature for acquiring the disease, are consumption of honey and powder from contaminated soil.
In the case of the honey intakeis because it is easy for it to contain spores and these develop in the intestinal tract of babies. This is why it is not recommended to give this food to children under 12 months, nor porridge or desserts that contain it.
Following a risk assessment carried out by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), it is not only recommended do not give honey or infusions or other plant species to babies under 1 year of age because they could act as a vehicle for the pathogen, but rather nor should they be exposed to dirt or dustespecially in rural areas.
How is it treated?
Botulism has a good prognosisespecially if diagnosed early.
The usual approach is the administration of antitoxina drug that prevents further damage or repairs damage already suffered by nerve cells.
Expert recommendations to avoid infant botulism
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Wash and cook properly all the vegetables that babies are going to eat.
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Do not provide honey (or foods that contain it) to children under one year of age.
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Keep children’s hands properly sanitized.
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Check that the little ones do not put food that has been in contact with the earth into their mouths.
And in which cases can an adult be infected with botulism?
Although in an adult the spores of Clostridium botulinum they do not produce any symptoms, since the conditions of their digestive tract make it impossible for them to germinate, if it is a person who has undergone very prolonged antibiotic treatments or surgery that involves a very significant decrease in intestinal florayou may be in some danger of contracting the disease.
In addition, there are two other types of botulism that do develop among the adult population:
- By ingestion of contaminated food: This poisoning can occur in canned cans in poor condition (or due to poor conservation after being opened). Initial symptoms include severe fatigue and dizziness, usually followed by blurred vision, dry mouth, and difficulty swallowing and speaking. Vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal inflammation may also appear.
- due to wound infection: Occurs when the spore Clostridium botulinum enters through an open wound causing an infection. Symptoms are similar to foodborne botulism, but can take up to two weeks to appear.