Home canning products.
More often meat, fish, mushrooms, less often vegetables.
Other canned foods that have not been washed well.
The penetration of bacteria through the wound.
The ingestion of a poisonous substance into the child’s body through breast milk.
Dispute with honey given to a baby.

Once in the human body, botulinum toxin begins to behave actively already in the oral cavity. Then it enters the stomach, then into the small intestine. Most of it is already absorbed there. The danger and insidiousness of infection lies in the fact that living microorganisms that have reached the intestines can multiply.

Then BT begins to bind with nerve cells. The toxin interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses to cells. So, muscles are affected. It has also been found that botulinum toxin reduces immune function. Therefore, any infection may be added to the disease. Bronchitis, tracheitis occur, and anemia also develops.

Causes and clinical picture

Botulism develops in the human body due to the ingestion of the bacteria “Clostridium botulinum” and its waste products. In biology, Clostridium botulinum is a motile anaerobic bacillus that occurs in two forms: vegetative and spore.

The vegetative bacillus is able to exist in the complete absence of oxygen and a temperature of 20-37 degrees. She is not afraid of environments rich in salts and acids. The destruction of bacteria occurs under the influence of a temperature of 80 degrees for half an hour.

The spore form is a waste product of “Clostridium botulinum”. It can exist for decades in almost any environment. It is destroyed under the influence of a temperature of 120 degrees for half an hour.

Food is the main source of botulism. The process of getting “Clostridium botulinum” into food, and then into the human body looks like this:

Clostridium botulinum enters the digestive tract mainly of wild animals that do not eat “pure food”
after passing through the entire gastrointestinal tract and settling in the feces of animals, the infection begins to actively multiply,
for natural reasons, the causative agent of botulism enters the soil, where it has the opportunity to live for decades, waiting for the carrier: mushroom, berry, vegetable,
in the next step, the carrier is already on the person’s table.

The reason botulism can occur is not the food product, but its improper preparation: poor washing, insufficient cleaning or poor-quality sterilization of cans, when it comes to preservation. Clostridium botulinum can be found everywhere. Every person is at risk of infection.

Once in the human body, Clostridium botulinum begins to produce waste products, in particular botulinum toxin (botulinum toxin). It is a powerful poison, 375,000 times more dangerous than a snake. Lack of timely and qualified treatment can cause death in 100% of cases.

The toxin acts rapidly in the body. The first symptoms of poisoning appear after 2-6 hours. Fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain rise. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, paralysis begins. As a result, the person dies.

Foodborne botulism

Clostridium botulinum is known as an anaerobic bacterium and only develops when oxygen is absent. The food form is threatened if bacteria grow and produce harmful toxins in food prior to consumption. The bacteria produce spores that are common in the environment, including sea and river water, and soil.

The formation of bacteria, the production of toxin are observed in products under conditions of low oxygen concentration, require a certain combination of preservation conditions and storage temperatures. In most cases, this affects lightly preserved food products that have not undergone the necessary processing, prepared at home.

An acidic environment is not conducive to toxin production, however, previously produced toxin cannot be destroyed in it. Storage at a low temperature, reaching a certain concentration of acidity, salt, can prevent the growth of bacteria.

Botulinum toxin has been found in many foods. Among them canned low-acid vegetables – beets, mushrooms, spinach, green beans. The danger is represented by sausages and ham, fish, smoked and salted, canned tuna. The list of “prohibited” dishes depends on the state, local nuances of conservation and nutrition. There are cases of detection of bacteria in the results of industrial production.

Fresh

Any not thoroughly prepared product can lead to the development of botulism. Eating raw foods is even more dangerous. Botulism can occur when eaten raw and improperly cooked:

Fish and seafood. Much less susceptible to botulism than warm-blooded animals. However, bacteria are found in fish. Such cases are quite common. You can protect yourself from infection by careful preparation. The bacterium is killed by cooking and frying. Lovers of sushi and dried fish should be careful.
Meat. Unlike animals infected with botulism, it is quite difficult to detect the presence of bacteria in the finished product. Meat dishes must be carefully prepared. Having eaten a steak with blood, a person runs the risk of getting sick.
Vegetables, fruits and mushrooms. First of all, there is a high probability of contracting from fungi. Clostridium botulinum is found in vegetables grown on the backyard, but not often.
Berries and honey. Infectious honey is a rare occurrence, but it happens. Berries harvested in contaminated areas are dangerous.

You need to choose products carefully, scrupulously about their preparation. Thanks to this, it will be possible to exclude the possibility of contracting botulism from everyday life.

Pickled and canned

Canned food is a heaven for Clostridium botulinum. The bacterium actively multiplies in an airless space. The above products should be preserved and marinated as carefully as possible. When it comes to mushrooms, vegetables and fruits, boiling and sterilization can be a sufficient precaution.

An exception is jam. When cooked, it is cooked for a long time, harmful bacteria die. Canned meat products are considered dangerous: stewed meat and pates. Having decided to use such products for food, it is better to play it safe and hold it in a water bath.

Beverages

Clostridium botulinum can appear in home-made beverages. Particular attention should be paid to juices, compotes, homemade wine and milk, but not natural, but dry.

The presence of harmful bacteria in canned beverages is easy to determine. Swelling of the container serves as a signal of the presence of danger. With wine, its origin plays a decisive role. The development of a Clostridium botulinum colony in factory alcohol is not possible due to careful control. Bacteria can multiply in homemade wine.

How do you know if food has been contaminated?

Usually, the disease begins to manifest itself after 2-10 hours from the moment the infection enters the body. In rare cases, it can take 2-3 days, but cases have been recorded in 8-10 days. But the earlier the first clinical manifestations appear, the harder the disease will be.

The first signs are nonspecific and may resemble those of food poisoning or gastroenteritis. These include acute pain in the abdomen, repeated vomiting, diarrhea, which does not exceed 10 times in 24 hours, headache, fever up to 40 degrees.

Remember! After 24 hours, the body temperature reaches a normal level, and the increased intestinal peristalsis is replaced by complete immobility, as a result of which persistent constipation appears. After some more time, the disease progresses, signs characteristic of botulism appear.

Visual impairment	Respiratory system disorders	Movement disorders	Impaired swallowing and speech
Decreased visual acuity, poor vision of nearby objects	Feeling short of air	Inactivity, muscle weakness, which increases with the progression of the disease	Dry mucous membranes in the mouth
Split eyes	Feeling of tightness in the chest and the appearance of pain	The muscles in the back of the neck weaken and patients have to hold their head with their hands to keep it from dropping to the chest	Changes in the pitch and timbre of the voice
Fog and white veil before the eyes	Frequent and shallow breathing		The appearance of nasal
Descent of the upper eyelids			Sensation of a foreign body in the throat
Kosoglazie			Swallowing problems: first solid food, then liquid
Involuntary movement of the eyeballs			As the disease progresses, the voice becomes hoarse.
Sometimes there may be complete immobility of the eyeballs			Possible complete loss of voice

What are the mechanisms of the appearance of clinical signs:

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are the local effects of botulinum toxin on the mucous wall of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT).
Shallow and rapid breathing – a decrease in the muscle activity of the diaphragm, intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles, the poison secreted by clostridia blocks the transmission of nerve impulses to the muscular system. Oxygen starvation occurs.
Muscle weakness is a violation of the transmission of nerve impulses, a decrease in the supply of oxygen to cells, a metabolic disorder.
Dryness of the mucous membranes, impaired swallowing, decreased mobility of the tongue – damage to the nuclei of the cranial nerves.
Stony face, lack of facial expressions – damage to the facial nerve.
Visual impairment, a veil before the eyes – damage to the nuclei of the cranial nerves, the nerve of the ciliary muscle.
Pallor of the skin – narrowing of blood vessels and capillaries adjacent to the surface of the skin and mucous membranes.
Constipation and flatulence – disruption of the vagus nerve.

When the first symptoms appear, it is important to hospitalize the patient.

Early botulism

This form of the disease is much less common than foodborne botulism. It is caused by spores that penetrate the open wound of the patient, capable of reproduction in such conditions. The symptoms of the disease are largely reminiscent of the manifestations of the food form, they can occur after two weeks. The risk group is represented by people suffering from drug addiction, heroin injections are especially dangerous.

“Children’s” botulism

This form is primarily a threat to infants under six months of age. Childhood botulism is the result of a child swallowing spores that release bacteria that invade the intestines and produce toxins. After 6 months, children practically do not encounter a similar form, it is not dangerous for adults either. This is due to the fact that the germination of pores is prevented by natural defense mechanisms that the body acquires later.

There are several sources of infection, the most famous and dangerous of them is honey. That is why doctors do not recommend feeding this product to children under one year old.

The symptoms of the disease in nursing infants are also different:

inability to hold the head;
hoarse crying;
lack of appetite;
weakness;
stool problems;
deterioration of the sucking, swallowing reflex.

Household dust and soil are also a threat to children. The childhood form is characterized by a long incubation period, babies are more susceptible to complications such as pneumonia, and the risk of death increases.

Respiratory botulism

This form of the disease is extremely rare. Its appearance in natural conditions is not possible, it is influenced by deliberate (biological terrorism) and accidental events associated with the release of toxins in aerosols. The same clinical manifestations are characteristic as can be observed with foodborne botulism. The rate of onset of the first symptoms depends on the level of poisoning, on average it takes 1-3 days.

Degrees of botulism and their symptoms

Today, doctors distinguish 3 degrees of severity of botulism. Self-medication (in extreme cases) is possible only at the first, mild stage of poisoning, since it is not prone to aggravation and almost never leads to death. However, even with it, if there is an opportunity to seek medical help, you should immediately take advantage of this.

Mild botulism

In this state, there is practically no threat to the patient’s life, and the symptoms are not very pronounced. The victim usually complains that they are worried about:

general symptoms of poisoning;
slight visual impairment;
moderate weakness;
slight change in voice.

It takes a maximum of 5 days to fully recover. On average, healing occurs on the third day.

Moderate botulism

In this condition, the patient needs qualified medical care. He has all the symptoms of botulism. However, the swallowing function is practically not disturbed, and he does not feel a lack of air. For the patient to recover, even with medical assistance, it takes at least 3 weeks.

Severe botulism

With this form of poisoning, the full symptomatology of botulism rapidly develops with a rapid suppression of swallowing function and respiration. The patient’s condition in this case is assessed by doctors as extremely difficult, requiring immediate resuscitation measures. If untreated, the patient dies within 6-48 hours from the onset of botulism. Recovery of the body after such poisoning takes up to 6 months.

Symptoms

Signs of botulism do not appear immediately. It usually takes 12-24 hours before they appear. If the disease is severe, the incubation period is shorter. If it proceeds easily, then the first symptoms may appear after 4 days.
The most common signs used to diagnose botulism include:

Feeling of dry mouth.
Muscle weakness, damage to the muscles of the neck, arms and legs.
Increased fatigue.
Near vision impairment.
Dizziness.
Problems with the organ of vision.
Diseases of the digestive system.

Also, the patient may experience the following symptoms: involuntary movements of the eyeballs, strabismus, ptosis, double vision, a change in the timbre of the voice, loss of voice.

Botulism, the symptoms of which appear rather slowly, for some patients does not seem to be a dangerous disease. However, it soon becomes clear that the disease is insidious. Vision problems occur (mesh, fog in front of the eyes). Dry mouth appears almost immediately. The patient feels a “lump” in the throat, it is difficult for a person to swallow.

Dizziness, insomnia, headaches: this refers to the neurological signs of the disease. Especially dangerous is the feeling of lack of air, heaviness in the chest. Death can occur due to breathing problems.

For the slightest botulism-like symptoms, see your doctor.

Diagnostics

The type of patient depends on the phase of the disease. Usually a person cannot move, is lethargic. Visual impairments are evident. The mucous membrane of the pharynx and oral cavity is dry, has a bright red color. The patient breathes shallowly and has difficulty speaking. The abdomen may be distended.

After a clinical examination, interviewing the patient, and laboratory tests, the doctor makes a diagnosis. Laboratory research plays a decisive role in this case. For them, blood, vomit of the patient or gastric washings, as well as urine, feces are taken. Botulism can be confused with stroke, myasthenia gravis, Guinea-Barré syndrome.

There are 3 stages of the disease:

Lightweight.
Possible visual disturbances (slight drooping of the eyelids), slight muscle weakness. The disease lasts up to 2-3 days.
Average.
In this case, the ailment can be cured only after 2-3 weeks and all its typical signs are present. But in this case, the voice does not disappear, swallowing is not disturbed.
Heavy.
Paralysis of the muscles of the larynx occurs, respiratory disorders are very serious and life-threatening. The patient may die within a few days if treatment is not started.

Treatment

Patients diagnosed with botulism must be hospitalized. The success of treatment depends on the following factors: how early and accurately the diagnosis is made, how well the therapy corresponds to the correct algorithm. An antitoxin should be introduced into the body as soon as possible.

First aid is as follows:

Gastric lavage, first with boiled water, then with a solution of 2% potassium bicarbonate.
Saline laxative.
Cleansing enema with a high degree of purification.

If the illness is severe, special therapy, such as ventilation, may be required. HBO is also indicated during therapy due to the developing hypoxia.
Treatment of botulism with antibiotics is prescribed only in the case of a wound variant of the disease.

Treatments for botulism are similar. But they all include mandatory gastric lavage, administration of antitoxic anti-botulinum serum and hospitalization.

What can be done before the ambulance arrives

Botulism develops very quickly and in order not to waste precious time before the arrival of an ambulance, you can perform some activities. Gastric lavage is best done with a soda solution, since an alkaline environment is detrimental to botulinum toxin and the procedure must be performed in the first 2 days, when there is a risk that there are remnants of contaminated food in the stomach.

A siphon enema is also recommended with a soda solution. To perform the manipulation, you will need a clean 10 liter bucket, a probe, a funnel, and a container for rinsing water. Take enterosorbent (the most famous and effective drugs are Activated carbon, White coal, Enterosgel and Polysorb.

If possible, put a dropper. Only a medical professional or a specially trained person can carry out the procedure. Simple and harmless drugs are considered Gemodez, Trisol, 5% glucose solution.

Medicines

Reopolyglyukin

Hemodesis

Enterodesis

Polyfepan

Furosemide

Laziks

Riboxin

For intravenous administration, Reopolyglucin and Gemodez are used. These funds effectively adsorb the botulinum toxin circulating in the blood. Further, it is excreted from the body in the urine. The doctor determines the dosage and duration of treatment individually.
Courses of antibiotics are also prescribed, destroying the vegetative forms of clostridia, which are formed from spores in the gastrointestinal tract. In most cases, the patient is prescribed Levomycetin, which produces a bacteriostatic effect.
The patient is also prescribed to take enterosorbents – for this purpose, Enterodez, Polyphepan, etc. are used.
It is advisable to take diuretics (Furosemide, Lasix ).
Medicines for metabolic support are also prescribed (Riboxin, ATP, B vitamins).

Procedures and operations

In the course of treatment, the doctor takes into account the patient’s condition and, if necessary, prescribes additional methods of therapy.

Since people with botulism have a decreased pharyngeal reflex, they are fed with liquid food using a thin probe. Since one of the symptoms of the disease is dryness of the mucous membranes, the probe must be removed immediately after a meal so as not to injure the mucous membranes. If the patient’s condition is severe, intravenous administration of nutrients is prescribed.

When the condition improves, the patient is prescribed physiotherapy treatment to accelerate the recovery of the body.

Treatment with folk remedies

The use of folk remedies is practiced only during the period when the patient’s body is recovering from botulism, and there is no threat to his life. That is, alternative methods can be used after the patient is discharged from the hospital. Their use should be discussed with your doctor. It is strictly forbidden to use these methods as the main treatment for botulism. You need to take such funds regularly, for at least two weeks.

Aronia infusion. 2 tbsp. l. dry berries need to pour 300 ml of boiling water and insist in a thermos for 6 hours. Drain and halve. Drink in the morning and evening.
Decoction of cinnamon. 1 tsp Pour cinnamon with 1 cup boiling water and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain, cool slightly and drink. You need to take the remedy twice a day, each time preparing a new portion.
Rosehip infusion. Grind dried berries, take 3 tbsp. l. such a tool and pour 3 tbsp. boiling water. Insist in a thermos for 6 hours, drain. Drink 1 glass three times a day.
Cranberry juice. 1 glass of berries, fresh or frozen, pour 6 glasses of water and boil for 10 minutes. After that, the berries need to be crushed and the fruit drink is cooked for another 5 minutes. Drain and drink the resulting fruit drink during the day.
Raspberry broth. 2 tbsp. l. dry raspberries need to be poured with 500 ml of boiling water. Insist in a thermos for several hours. Drink half a glass warm 4 times a day. You can also make such a drink from fresh raspberries.

How to protect yourself from canned botulism

it is necessary to wash food and all utensils used for preservation with high quality;
follow the prescription using the specified amount of salt and acids;
carry out a thorough heat treatment of products;
fish and meat can only be preserved using an autoclave;
stale, moldy or spoiled foods cannot be preserved;
store preservation in a dark place and at low temperatures (4-15 degrees);
do not use canned foods with a swollen lid in food;
products that will be canned must be boiled for 20 minutes;
do not use metal covers;
add vinegar, which neutralizes the toxin;
do not buy home preservation from hands;
you can boil canned foods before eating;
it is better not to preserve mushrooms and meat at home, because it is quite difficult to sterilize them yourself;
be sure to boil the jar for at least 30 minutes.

Methods for preventing botulism

It is quite possible to avoid poisoning with botulinum toxin, it is enough to take precautions while canning vegetables and fruits at home.

Prevention methods:

Carefully select products for homemade preparations, it is better to throw out suspicious fruits.
Do not eat canned mushrooms and vegetables with cloudy brine and swollen lids.
It is advisable to write the date of manufacture of the product on the bank.
Before canning, hands and the working surface of the table must be thoroughly washed, the jars must be sterilized.
Do not buy homemade products “from hand” in the markets.
The cans with canned fish and meat should have the date of manufacture, information about the manufacturer and the composition of the product. (canned food poisoning)

The consequences of botulism

Untimely treatment of botulism can cause a number of complications.

Consequences of the disease:

Botulinum toxin blocks CNS impulses and causes paralysis.
Dysfunction of the visual organs: split eyes, the appearance of fog and flies before the eyes, squint.
Violation of the motor system: the patient’s body becomes lethargic, it is difficult for him to keep his head upright.
The appearance of problems with respiratory and swallowing functions: the victim can hardly swallow food, breathing becomes shallow and frequent.
Gastroenteric syndrome: nausea, vomiting, loose stools.

The timely provided first aid and further treatment in the hospital under the supervision of doctors will help to avoid the serious consequences of intoxication.

To protect yourself and your family from botulism, you need to know which foods cause botulinum toxin poisoning, how to properly preserve and store homemade products.

Which doctor should i contact for botulism?

– ambulance
– infectious disease specialist

A Few Facts About Canned Botulism

Botulism is a deadly disease, but if you see a doctor in time, you can get rid of this bacteria quickly enough.
It is a non-communicable disease. You can only get infected by eating an infected product.
Botulism is a rare disease. You should not panic and give up your favorite home preservation, but it is better to be careful.
You can find several new recipes on the internet. Now there are many new ways to process food, but do not forget about the “grandmother’s” recipes, because the older generation knew many secrets of how to protect themselves and their families.
The initial symptoms of the disease are similar to many other diseases, therefore laboratory tests are necessary. This means that if a person feels a certain malaise, it is better to immediately go to the hospital, since the disease is quite serious.

You just have to be more attentive to your health, and you can enjoy your favorite pickles without harm to your health.

Sources used and useful links on the topic: https://zen.yandex.com/media/id/595f61ded7d0a69b431e48f9/chto-takoe-botulizm-korotko-o-vajnom-5db66819c05c7100ad0ea9ad https://nlmed.ru/kupretov-blenproduct -privodit-k-botulizmu / https://www.ayzdorov.ru/lechenie_botulizm_chto.php https://vrbiz.ru/raznoe/kakih-produktah-vstrechaetsya-botulizm https://lechilka.com/botulizm.html https: //medside.ru/botulizm https://otravleniya.net/pishhevye-otravleniya/botulizm-v-konservatsii.html https://otravlen.info/botulizm/kakie-produkty-vyzyvayut-botulizm.html https: // mediccare .ru / botulizm-simptomy-prichiny-i-lechenie-botulizma.html

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