Botulism Flashcards
Definition
Paralytic disease caused by potent protein neurotoxins elaborated by Clostridium botulism
Causative agent
Clostridium botulism
Anaerobic gram positive
Spore forming
How is toxin transported in the human body ?
From vascular system to
Peripheral cholinergic nerve terminal
Distribution of the disease
Worldwide
Ways of transmission
Food borne
Through wounds
Ingestion of spores
By inhalation
Clinical manifestation of food borne botulism
Symmetric descending paralysis Respiratory failure Cranial nerve involvement Dipoplia Dysarthria Dysphonia Dysphagia Weakness starts from head to neck and downwards till legs. Weakness is assymetric Nausea Vomiting Ptôsis Depressed pupillary reflex Severe constipation common
Clinical manifestation of wound manifestation
Like food borne but without gastrointestinal symptoms
Incubation period of food borne botulism
18-36 hours
Incubation period of wound botulism
Average of 10 days
Clinical manifestation of intestinal botulism
Can be mild illness
Severe respiratory failure
Severe paralysis
Diagnosis
Clinical sign ( symmetric descending paralysis , afebrile, mentally intact )
Differential diagnosis
Guillaume barre syndrome
Myasthenia gravis
Tick paralysis
Prevention
Pentavalent vaccine
