The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20160407063429/http://www.fpnotebook.com:80/ID/Peds/InfntBtlsm.htm
Logo

Infant Botulism

Aka: Infant Botulism, Infantile Botulism

I. See Also

  1. Botulism

II. Epidemiology

  1. Incidence: Estimated at 250 cases in U.S. per year
    1. More cases than foodborne or wound Botulism
  2. States with highest rates
    1. California (50%)
    2. Utah
    3. Pennsylvania
  3. Age of Onset
    1. Age 6 weeks to 9 months
    2. Peaks at 2-3 months (90% are under 6 months of age)

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Sources
    1. Contaminated soil
    2. Contaminated honey (10% of samples)
    3. Contaminated corn syrup (0.5% of samples)
  2. Other related factors
    1. Infants under 2 months living in rural farming area
    2. Infants over 2 months are typically Breast fed
      1. Nursing infants account for 70-90% Infant Botulism
      2. Nursing may be protective and delay severity
      3. Non-nursing infants may have fatal undiagnosed case

IV. Symptoms and Signs

  1. See Botulism
  2. Early symptoms and Signs
    1. Constipation (65%)
      1. May precede weakness by weeks
    2. Cranial Nerve Dysfunction
      1. Weak cry and weak sucking
      2. Decreased oral intake (79%)
      3. Decreased Gag Reflex
      4. Cranial Nerve 6 palsy (unable to abduct eye)
      5. Mydriasis with sluggish pupil reaction
      6. Ptosis
    3. Autonomic changes
      1. Hypotension
      2. Neurogenic Bladder
  3. Later Symptoms and Signs
    1. Weakness or hypotonia (88%)
    2. Decreased activity or lethargy (60%)
    3. Irritability
    4. Respiratory difficulties

V. Differential Diagnosis

  1. See Hypotonia in Infants (Floppy Infant)
  2. See Pediatric Constipation Causes

VI. Labs

  1. See Botulism
  2. Serum sample for Botulinum toxin
  3. Stool for toxin and culture
    1. Passed stool is preferred
    2. Sample (25 g or 25 ml) via colonic irrigation
  4. Possible sources sent for Botulinum toxin
    1. Dust or soil from clothing
    2. Honey, Corn syrup and other foods

VII. Diagnostic Testing

  1. See Botulism
  2. Electromyogram (EMG)

VIII. Management

  1. Supportive care with close supervision
    1. Anticipate Mechanical Ventilation
  2. Avoid Aminoglycosides (may increase toxin levels)
  3. Consider Botulinum Immune globulin
    1. Efficacy
      1. Reduces hospitalization duration
      2. Reduces Mechanical Ventilation duration
    2. Source: California Department of Health Services
      1. Phone (24 hours): 510-540-2646
  4. Botulinum antitoxin
    1. Botulinum Immune Globulin is preferred over antitoxin
    2. Controversial in Infant Botulism
      1. May not be beneficial in Infant Botulism
    3. Anaphylaxis rate is high (9 to 20%)
      1. Test for Horse Serum Sensitivity prior to use

IX. Prognosis

  1. Case fatality rate of treated patients: <2%
  2. Excellent long-term prognosis without residual changes

X. Course

  1. Mechanical Ventilation: 23 days
  2. Hospital stay on average: 44 days
  3. Relapses, if they occur, usually do so within 13 days

XI. References

  1. (2000) AAP Red Book, 25th edition, p. 212-13
  2. Schechter in Behrman (2000) Nelson Pediatrics, p. 875-8
  3. Cox (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(7):1388-92 [PubMed]
  4. Muensterer (2000) Pediatr Rev 21(12):427 [PubMed]

Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)

These images are a random sampling from a Bing search on the term "Infant Botulism." Click on the image (or right click) to open the source website in a new browser window. Search Bing for all related images

Related Studies (from Trip Database) Open in New Window

Ontology: Botulism, Infantile (C0238027)

Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D001906
ICD9 040.41
ICD10 A48.51
SnomedCT 230680004, 414488002
Portuguese Botulismo Infantil
Spanish Botulismo Infantil, botulismo de la lactancia, botulismo de la lactancia (trastorno), botulismo infantil (trastorno), botulismo infantil
French Botulisme infantile, Botulisme de l'enfant
German Botulismus, infantiler
English infant botulism (diagnosis), infant botulism, Infantile Botulism, Infant botulism, Botulism, Infantile, Infant Botulism, Botulisms, Infant, Infant Botulisms, Botulism, Infant, botulism; infant, infant; botulism, Infantile botulism, Infantile botulism (disorder)
Italian Botulismo infantile
Norwegian Botulisme, infantil, Infantil botulisme, Spedbarnsbotulisme
Czech botulismus kojenců, kojenecký botulismus
Dutch botulisme; kind, kind; botulisme, Botulisme bij kinderen
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Pediatrics

2016 Family Practice Notebook, LLC. Terms | Privacy (UBM) | About | Site Map | Blog

Footer Site Logo
Morty Proxy This is a proxified and sanitized view of the page, visit original site.