By: Cristal

What is Botulism???
This disease affects the Gastrointestinal tract but it can also affect various muscle groups.

What are the causes???
This disease is rare but a serious illness caused by Bacterium Clostridium Botulinum which normally lives in the water. This gets into people's food and causes toxin that leads to food poisoning. Foods that are most likely to contain Clostridium Botulinum are canned foods

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Dysphagia
• Paralysis, muscle weakness
• Nausea & vomiting, abdominal cramps
• Double vision, Dyspnea
• Poor feeding & sucking on infants

**TREATMENT**

• Emergency Hospitalization
• Intubation-inserting a tube into the upper airway to open airways
• Mechanical Ventilation if respiratory muscles are impaired
• Intravenous fluids or nasogastric
• Administration of an antitoxin

PREVENTION

• Never give honey or syrup to an infant
• Sterilize can food containers
• Do not use bent or bulging containers
• Never eat foods that smell like they've been spoiled
• Cook & store food properly