Clostridium botulinum is a bacterium that produces a powerful neurotoxin. Botulinum toxin causes an illness known as botulism, which can cause paralysis and is fatal in severe cases. Food borne botulism is most often caused by improper canning, especially home canning. The foods at highest risk for botulism are meat and low-acid vegetables.
Onset
Botulism usually affects the cranial nerves first, causing an initial paralysis in the muscles that control the face and mouth. This results in difficulty with eye movements, facial expressions, chewing and swallowing.
Progression
Paralysis due to botulism may spread to the shoulders followed by the forearms. It can also reach the legs and proceed down to the feet.
Severe Cases
Botulism can become extremely serious if it spreads to the muscles used in respiration. This begins with breathing difficulty and can lead to an accumulation of carbon dioxide in the lungs, causing a depressant effect on the patient.
Respiratory Failure
Botulism can also cause respiratory failure, which can lead to a coma and eventual death if left untreated. Patients with this severity of botulism may need to be on a ventilator for weeks while they recover.
Additional Symptoms
Botulism can also affect the autonomic nervous system, causing a variety of apparently unrelated symptoms. These may include dry mouth, decreased blood pressure while standing and eventually constipation.
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