Botulism

Content provided by National Organization for Rare Disorders

Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Botulism is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• None

Disorder Subdivisions

• Foodborne Botulism
• Wound Botulism
• Infant Botulism

General Discussion

Botulism is a neuromuscular (paralytic) disease caused by a bacterial toxin acting in the intestine (enterotoxin) and causing neuromuscular poisoning (resulting from Clostridium botulinum toxin). There are three generally recognized types; food-borne, wound, and infant. Foodborne botulism results when C. botulinum toxin, produced in contaminated food, is ingested or the spores are inhaled. Wound botulism is caused by C. botulinum toxin in wounds that are contaminated with this bacterium. The most common form of botulism in the United States, infant botulism, is caused by the ingestion or inhaling of C. botulinum spores and the subsequent production of botulinum toxin in the intestines of affected infants. (Parenthetically, botulinum toxin has become a therapeutic agent and orphan drug in its own right and is used in the treatment of certain dystonias and other disorders.)



Any case of botulism is considered to be a public health emergency because of the potential for toxin-containing foods to injure others who eat them and because of the potential misuse of botulinum toxin as a biological weapon. State and local public health officials by law much be informed immediately whenever botulism is suspected in a human patient.

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1600 Clifton Road NE

Atlanta, GA 30333

Tel: (404)639-3534

Tel: (800)311-3435

Email: http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm

Internet: http://www.cdc.gov/



NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

6610 Rockledge Drive

MSC 6612

Bethesda, MD 20892-6612

Tel: (301)496-5717

Fax: (301)402-3573

TDD: (800)877-8339

Internet: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/



Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Inquiry & Consumer Information

Office of Inquiry and Consumer Information

5600 Fisher Lane

Room 12-A-40

Rockville, MD 20857

Tel: (301)827-4420

Tel: (888)463-6332

Internet: http://www.fda.gov/fdahomepage.html



Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program

850 Marina Bay Parkway

Room E361

Richmond, CA 94804

Tel: (510)231-7600

Email: ibtpp@infantbotulism.org

Internet: http://www.infantbotulism.org

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  4/21/2008

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Last updated:	April 21, 2008