Botulism: drugs, causes, symptoms, etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is botulism?

Botulism is a disease due to toxins produced by named bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Clostridium botulinum produces seven different types of poison and is named from a to g.

Of the seven types, only poisons a, b, e, and f have the ability to cause disease in humans.

Generally, botulism comes in three forms, namely:

foodborne botulism, these bacteria are obtained from contaminated food and can reproduce and produce toxins in places that contain little oxygen such as canned food,
wound botulism, the infection occurs when a wound is exposed to bacteria, and
botulism in infants, begins when bacterial spores grow in the baby's intestinal tract.

The toxins from these bacteria can attack the body's nerves and cause shortness of breath, muscle paralysis, and death.

How common is botulism?

Botulism is a condition that is quite rare, but can affect anyone of all ages.

Fortunately, botulism is not a contagious disease. You can limit your chances of contracting the disease by reducing risk factors. Please consult your doctor for more information.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of botulism?

There are several different symptoms of each type of botulism. In foodborne botulism, most of the symptoms begin 12 - 36 hours after eating contaminated food.

However, the timing of these symptoms onset depends on how much toxin has entered the body. Some of the symptoms are:

drooping eyelids (ptosis),
facial weakness on one or both sides,
multiple views (one object is visible there are two),
dry mouth,
nausea and stomach cramps,
hard to breathe,
difficult to speak,
difficulty swallowing, as well
muscle weakness, especially in the neck and hands, then continues in the muscles around the respiratory organs and lower body parts.

In wound botulism, symptoms usually appear about 10 days after the toxin enters the body. The symptoms are similar to the previous type of botulism, except that the wound changes that appear red and swollen.

Whereas in infant botulism, symptoms are generally felt within 18 - 36 hours after the poison enters the body. Apart from those already mentioned, the symptoms that will appear include:

constipation, which is usually an early symptom,
weaker and drooping movements,
difficulty sucking breast milk or food,
a weaker cry, and
the baby becomes more fussy.

When to see a doctor?

See a doctor immediately if you or your child experience symptoms of botulism. Because, if not treated on time, your hands and feet will be paralyzed.

You may also experience paralysis of the respiratory muscles or even complete paralysis. You may need a ventilator or breath aid.

Cause

What causes botulism?

Bacteria Clostridium botulinum can be found naturally in many places. These bacteria make spores which act as a protective layer. These spores help the bacteria to survive even in extreme conditions.

These spores do not usually cause disease. However, under certain circumstances the spores can grow and produce toxins. Some of the factors that trigger this event are:

the oxygen level in the environment in which it lives is very low or nonexistent,
low acid level,
low sugar,
low salt, as well
a certain temperature range and amount of water.

For example, in food botulism, it can be sourced from low-acid home canned foods such as fruit, vegetables and fish that are preserved or improperly fermented.

The conditions in these foods can be an ideal place for spores to grow and produce botulinum toxins.

Other than that, C. botulinum also found in several places such as land, rivers, and sea water.

Babies can be poisoned by spores (from fungi) from the soil when playing outside. Then later the spores will grow in the digestive tract and produce toxins in the body.

In wound botulism, disease occurs when bacteria enter from a wound that you didn't notice. Then the bacteria grow and produce toxins. This case most often occurs in people who use injectable types of heroin.

Diagnosis and treatment

How is it tested for this condition?

Botulism has similar symptoms to other diseases, making it difficult to diagnose. You will need several tests in a specialized laboratory before you can get a definite diagnosis.

First, the doctor will perform a physical examination to look for signs of muscle weakness or paralysis, such as drooping eyelids or a weaker voice.

The doctor will also ask about the foods you have eaten in the last few days or if you have recently been injured.

Later, further tests can be in the form of blood tests, feces, or taking a sample of vomit to see evidence of poison.

What are the treatment options for botulism?

There are several different treatments for botulism.

Usually, the doctor will check and monitor certain symptoms, the doctor will also give you anti-toxins to slow down paralysis and make the symptoms of botulism lighter.

Especially if you are diagnosed early, anti-venom injections can reduce the risk of complications. These anti-toxins work by attaching to toxins that are still circulating in the bloodstream and prevent them from damaging nerves.

Please note, anti-poison cannot reverse the damage that has been done. However, nerves can still regenerate.

Because of this, many people recover fully, but it takes months and requires regular therapy.

Therapy is carried out with the aim of improving the ability to speak, swallow, or other bodily functions that are affected by this poison.

In addition, doctors can also give antibiotics. However, antibiotics are only given to patients who have experienced wound botulism. The reason is, when given to other types of botulism, antibiotics will actually encourage the production of toxins from the spores.

Home remedies

What home remedies can be used to treat botulism?

The following lifestyle changes and home remedies can help you deal with botulism.

The majority of cases occur due to cooking canned foods, especially vegetables. Therefore, be careful in the process of preparing and serving food.
Boil the food for at least 10 minutes as the toxins are destroyed at high temperatures.
Be careful when babies under 1 year of consuming honey. Many cases occur in children when ingesting contaminated honey.
Make sure the wound is cleaned. Proper wound care and not using addictive drugs will help reduce the risk of botulism associated with wounds.

If you have any questions, please consult your doctor for further understanding and the best solution for you.