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Botulism
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Infections

Botulism

Botulism is a rare but serious medical emergency caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Overview

Botulism is a rare but serious illness. The cause is a toxin (poison) made by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which occurs naturally in soil.

Types of Botulism

  • Foodborne botulism comes from eating foods contaminated with the toxin.
  • Wound botulism happens when a wound infected with the bacteria makes the toxin; it is more common in heroin users.
  • Infant botulism happens when a baby consumes the spores of the bacteria from soil or honey.

All forms can be deadly and are medical emergencies.

Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. Treatment may include antitoxins, intensive medical care, or surgery of infected wounds.

Prevention

  • Be very careful when canning foods at home
  • Do not let babies eat honey
  • Get prompt medical care for infected wounds

Frequently Asked Questions

ntibiotics alone are insufficient because they do not neutralize the toxin already circulating in the body. Treatment requires the administration of botulism antitoxin to stop the progression of paralysis, along with surgical debridement of the infected wound to remove the source of the bacteria. Supportive care, including mechanical ventilation, is often necessary until the body can regenerate damaged nerve endings.
Symptoms typically begin 12 to 36 hours after ingestion, but they can appear as early as 6 hours or as late as 10 days after eating the contaminated food. The onset is often gradual, starting with cranial nerve symptoms like blurred vision or drooping eyelids before progressing to generalized muscle weakness.
The primary risk comes from improperly processed low-acid foods, such as vegetables, meats, and fish, which are packed in jars and sealed without sufficient heat processing to kill spores. To ensure safety, always use tested, up-to-date canning recipes, maintain proper pH levels (adding acid to vegetables if needed), and discard any jars that bulge, leak, or have a cloudy appearance. Never taste a jar that shows signs of spoilage.
Infant botulism is not contagious; it occurs when a baby ingests Clostridium botulinum spores, often from honey or soil, which then germinate in the infant's immature gut. If a baby exhibits constipation, poor feeding, a weak cry, or generalized muscle weakness (floppiness), seek emergency medical care immediately. Do not induce vomiting, as this can worsen the condition, and avoid giving honey to any child under one year of age.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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