BOTULISM IN ENGLISH

                                                

                                            BOTULISM IN ENGLISH

                          watch my youtube video to understand this topic in easy way-

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCFWbf-_yDI&t=334s

BOTULISM-

Ø  Human botulism is a serious but relatively rare disorder caused by a potent preformed toxins produced by a bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It is main cause of food poisioing

Ø  There are 3 forms of botulism:

Ø  Foodborne botulism

Ø  Wound botulism, and

Ø  Intestinal  botulism.

CAUSES OF  BOTULIMS-

Ø  Botulism is caused by a bacteria Clostridium botulinum which is an anaerobic, rod-shaped spore-forming bacteria that produces a protein with characteristic neurotoxicity. 

Ø  There are  7 recognized types of Clostridium botulinum. Out of these seven forms types A, B, E, rarely F and possibly G cause human botulism.

Ø  Foodborne botulism is a severe intoxication resulting from ingestion of preformed toxin present in contaminated food.

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS-

Ø  Signs and symptoms  of botulism are- 

Ø  Marked fatigue, weakness and vertigo.

Ø  Blurred vision and dry mouth,

Ø   Difficulty in swallowing and speaking.

Ø   Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal swelling may also occur.

Ø    Neurological symptoms ( paralysis of muscles) always descend through the body.

Ø   shoulders are first affected, then upper arms, lower arms, thighs, calves, etc.

Ø  Paralysis of breathing muscles can cause loss of breathing and death unless assistance with breathing (mechanical ventilation) is provided.

Ø  Intestinal (infant) botulism is rare; it affects children below 1  years of age. Ingested spores germinate and produce bacteria that reproduce in the gut and release toxin.

Ø  Clinical symptoms in infants include constipation, difficulty in sucking and breathing, loss of appetite, weakness, week cry, irritability  and  loss of head control.

Ø  Wound botulism, a rare disease, occurs when spores get into an open wound and reproduce in an anaerobic environment. Sign and Symptoms are similar to the foodborne botulism, but may take up to 2 weeks to appear.

DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATION-

Ø  Diagnosis of foodborne botulism is made by identification of botulinum toxin in serum, stool, gastric aspirate or incriminated food; or

Ø  Through culture of C. botulinum from gastric aspirate or stool in a clinical case.

TREATMENT-

Ø  Dilution of toxin-

Ø  For cases of foodborne botulism,  the digestive system is cleaned by inducing vomiting and giving medications to induce bowel movements.

Ø  for the patient having botulism in a wound, the doctor may need to remove infected tissue surgically.

Ø  Use of anti-toxin -

Ø  Antitoxin can not reverse the damage but  it reduces the risk of complications. The antitoxin attaches itself to toxin that's still circulating in bloodstream and keeps it from harming the nerves.

Ø  Antibiotics are recommended for the treatment of wound botulism and in case of breathing difficulty mechanical ventilation may be provided.

PREVENTION-

Ø  Good practices in food preparation (food hygiene) is a very good method of prevention.

Ø  Refrigeration combined with control of salt content and/or acidity will prevent the growth or formation of toxin.

Ø  The patient’s clothing must be removed and stored in plastic bags until it can be washed with soap and water. The patient must shower thoroughly.

Ø  Food and water samples associated with suspect cases must be obtained immediately, stored in sealed containers and sent to reference laboratories.

Ø  Reporting to local health authority about  suspected and confirmed cases obligatory in most countries. It help in starting control measures in time and further spread of diseases