Botulism
Botulism is a foodborne poisoning that can lead to severe consequences. At the same time, in most cases, botulism can be prevented by following simple food safety rules.
Causes of Botulism
Botulism is most often caused by home-canned foods — meat and fish, and less frequently vegetables. All canned foods that have been poorly washed, improperly or insufficiently heat-treated, transported, or stored under inappropriate conditions are potentially dangerous. Even canned foods that are within their expiration date and appear and taste normal can be contaminated: botulism cannot be detected by color or taste, and the microorganism that causes the disease does not spoil food.
Botulism can also occur as a result of consuming dried or smoked fish and any meat products (sausages, ham, etc.). Most often, botulism is caused by dried or smoked homemade products; however, cases of the disease following consumption of products manufactured industrially are also reported. This occurs when the relevant requirements are not followed during the preparation, processing, or storage of the product.
Much less frequently, botulism can be contracted through wounds; similarly rarely, the microorganism can be transmitted from mother to child through breast milk.
To date, no cases of botulism have been associated with the consumption of fresh, washed, and properly boiled or fried foods.
Prevention of Botulism
To protect yourself from botulism, avoid consuming:
- dried, smoked, salted, and canned fish;
- canned meat and mushrooms;
- homemade canned foods;
- products if you are not sure that they were properly stored and/or transported;
- products if you have doubts about their quality.
** Symptoms of Botulism**
The first symptoms of the disease most often occur 12–24 hours after consuming contaminated food. At the same time, symptoms may also appear earlier (as soon as 2 hours) or much later (4 days or more). The more severe the disease, the shorter the incubation period.
Symptoms of botulism:
- impaired near vision: you cannot read text, but can see objects clearly;
- severe dryness of the mouth;
- difficulty speaking (the voice becomes quiet, nasal, or disappears);
- increased fatigue and muscle weakness;
- dizziness;
- short-term symptoms affecting the digestive system (nausea, vomiting, loose stools), followed by intestinal paresis (abdominal bloating, constipation);
- weakness of the neck and limb muscles.
Symptoms of botulism most often develop gradually, without a sudden increase in body temperature, which may create the illusion that the illness is not serious. Subsequently, visual impairment develops — one of the earliest signs of botulism (the patient experiences a “mesh or fog” in front of the eyes, double vision, and difficulty reading, which is associated with paralysis of the eye muscles). At the same time, thirst, dryness of the mucous membranes, and difficulty swallowing occur, and the tone of the voice may change. Patients complain of a feeling of a “lump” in the throat, pain when swallowing, and throat irritation — all of these symptoms are caused by damage to the swallowing muscles.
Neurological symptoms persist for several days and are accompanied by general intoxication syndrome — patients complain of severe headache, dizziness, insomnia, general weakness, and elevated body temperature. In severe cases, patients experience shortness of breath and a feeling of heaviness in the chest, and breathing becomes shallow. Respiratory failure develops, which is the cause of death in botulism.
At the slightest suspicion of botulism, seek medical attention immediately! Hospitalization is mandatory regardless of the severity of the disease.
Treatment of Botulism
All patients with botulism, regardless of the clinical form of the disease, are subject to hospitalization. Successful treatment depends on early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and, in most cases, administration of botulinum antitoxin (synonyms: serum, immunoglobulin).
This year, Ukraine will purchase antitoxins at the national level for the first time, including botulism antitoxin. Until now, humanitarian aid shipments had been the only way to provide Ukrainian citizens with specific antitoxins when necessary. Thus, at the end of October last year, at the request of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Ukraine delivered 150 doses of botulinum immunoglobulin, which were distributed among the regions.
The antitoxin can be obtained at any time (including weekends and outside regular working hours)!
How to obtain botulism antitoxin: http://bit.ly/2NInrPu
From the beginning of 2018 through September 11, 2018, 80 cases of botulism were registered, affecting 93 people, 8 of whom died.
Download informational materials on botulism at the following link