What is infant botulism?
Infant botulism is the infectious (intestinal) form of botulism, which results when swallowed spores of a particular bacterium (Clostridium botulinum) colonize the baby’s large intestine and produce botulinum toxin in it. Botulinum toxin causes weakness and loss of muscle tone because it blocks the nerve ending’s ability to signal the linked muscle to contract. The illness often begins with constipation but is usually first noticed as difficulty feeding (sucking and swallowing), a weak and altered cry and diminished facial expression.
Related Questions
- Does my hospital laboratory (California ONLY) need to send diagnostic stool specimens for infant botulism testing to my local public health laboratory first?
- Is the Infant Botulism Laboratory a section of the Microbial Disease Laboratory (MDL) at California Department of Public Health?
- Can my baby contract infant botulism if I eat cereal with Honey while breastfeeding?
