Botulism in Infants
Alternate Names : Infant Botulism
What can be done to prevent the infection?
To keep babies safe, follow these steps.
Never give honey to an infant under age 1in a bottle, on a nipple, or in
any other way.
Do not allow soil or dirt to get into the belly button before the
cord stub falls off at around 2 weeks of age.
Handle food carefully and make sure it is fully cooked.
Never eat canned goods if the can is swollen or the
safety button on the lid has popped up before the lid was opened. Food
safety cannot be judged by appearance. Food may not taste or look
spoiled even if the toxin is present.
Botulinum spores are heat-resistant. Although the toxin may be destroyed by heat,
by boiling foods for 10 minutes or heating at 176 degrees to
212 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes before eating, only high
temperatures obtained in a pressure cooker can destroy bacterial
spores in food. All low-acid foods must be canned in a pressure canner
at 240 degrees Fahrenheit (or 115.6 degrees Celsius) to destroy botulism spores.
Commercially canned foods are rarely responsible for
botulism. But when sealed foods are not processed at high enough
temperatures to kill the organism, the toxin and spores can thrive in
the sealed container. The bacteria do not need oxygen to survive.
What are the long-term effects of the infection?
When botulism is not treated, the death rate is very high.
In recent years, it has decreased among adults due to the development
of an antitoxin.
If a baby survives the first few days after botulism has been
diagnosed and treated, recovery is usually complete. If serious respiratory
paralysis occurs, this condition may be fatal.
What are the risks to others?
This illness does not spread from one person to another.
However, tainted food or soil may affect anyone who comes into contact
with it.
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