{"id":5574,"date":"2019-04-11T05:52:29","date_gmt":"2019-04-11T05:52:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5574"},"modified":"2021-03-30T17:32:32","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T17:32:32","slug":"14-signs-of-botulism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-signs-of-botulism\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Signs of Botulism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Botulism is rare. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to contract, or that you may never encounter it. It’s classified as one of the most serious illnesses. It is transmitted through food, contaminated soil and even an open wound. It may be a hard notice in some cases, and that’s why it may be deadly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If not treated well, death, paralysis, and breathing malfunctions are all possible. The condition is caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. It is a potent bacterium. Botulism is so rare is because the bacteria causing it can only survive in places without oxygen. Home-canned foods, chemical facilities, and other places are excellent breeding grounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three types of Botulism. These are an infant, foodborne and wound botulism. Wound botulism is the rarest, as symptoms begin appearing only after ten days in some cases. Infant and food botulism is noticeable after 12 to 36 hours. That’s why the wound type is the most dangerous one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Lack of Bowel Movements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most of the symptoms of botulism <\/a>are digestive in nature. The reason for this is in most cases the bacteria enter the body through the mouth. Constipation may occur because botulism will first attack the esophagus. As the bacteria attack the esophagus it causes the entire digestive process to malfunction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, a person suffering from constipation may not even have the slightest hint of a stool. The malfunction of the digestive system means that the food that you eat is not being converted into nutrients and waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have noticed that you are not having normal bowel movements and you are taking laxatives and probiotics and they do not help, it is a good idea to visit a doctor. Constipation is one of the first and quickest symptoms to come up, so if you catch it early the healing and the treatment process can be much easier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Excessive Drooling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to infants, drooling is just a part of their lifestyle<\/a>. Drooling can be caused by any number of things including teething. However, it is also a symptom of botulism. One of the ways that the bacteria that causes botulism spreads is through the saliva. When the bacteria reach the cavity of the mouth, it affects the function of the saliva glands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your baby is affected with botulism you may notice that they are drooling much more than normal. This is one of the reasons that it is important to know your baby\u2019s habits so that you notice any changes. There are times with the glands will start to produce too much fluid. This is the body sending a signal that something is out of balance. If the drooling persists for more than four hours it is a good idea to contact your doctor. Adults with botulism may notice excessive drooling as well.
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3. Extreme Exhaustion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Exhaustion is a prevalent symptom of botulism in both adults and infants alike. The reason for this is quite simple with this symptom. In order to provide the body with energy<\/a>, you need a constant influx of food. Food is what provides your body with the nutrients that it needs in order to function properly. When the body is not getting what it needs, it begins to shut down. Your body will attempt to go into sleep mode as a way to prevent expending any excess energy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since botulism affects the digestive tract and system, it will start to manifest as having a lowered amount of energy. It is important to track your infant\u2019s state regularly. If they seem to not be eating as much and are spending more time sleeping than normal, it is a good idea to take them to the doctor. An adult experiencing prolonged periods of tiredness should also visit the doctor to determine the cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. No Appetite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of the people affected by botulism, 65 percent are infants. The main reason for this is because infants often eat a lot of canned and processed foods. These types of foods have the highest likelihood of being contaminated. This means that the chances of infants becoming infected <\/a>with the dangerous bacterium is higher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice that your infant is not eating as much or simply does not seem hungry, it could be a sign that there is something wrong. An infant that does not feel like eating could be suffering from any number of ailments, one of which is botulism. If your infant is not eating as much or does not seem hungry it is important to take them to the doctor as soon as possible. This loss of appetite affects adults as well and is something worth noting, especially if it is accompanied by some of the other symptoms on this list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Constant Bad Mood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Being irritable is very common among infants who are affected by botulism. This symptom can affect adults who have botulism as well. When a person has botulism, the body is going to spend all of its energy trying to fight it off. The body will fight the condition and then prevent it from spreading throughout the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the body is busy fighting off the infection, it will not have any energy left to focus on the less important facets of the brain <\/a>and body. If your infant has become quite irritable and you cannot figure out why it is something that should be noted as this can be a sign that there is some type of imbalance. This is true for adults as well. Any prolonged period of irritability or a constant bad mood can be a sign that the person is suffering from botulism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Lack of Head Control<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Generally speaking, babies have undeveloped connections between the mind and the muscles<\/a>. For this reason, the symptom of not having any head control or movements that are floppy may not be noticeable because it may seem like their movement is no different than normal. However, you may start to notice that your baby moves their head in a weird way. The baby may also seem incoherent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cause of this is simply muscle weakness and if this is happening to your child you may need to visit a specialist. When the body is infected with botulism it may start to shut down the neural connections between the muscles and the limbs. This is one sign that could mean the condition is becoming more advanced. Adults who are infected with botulism may also notice a weakness in their muscles and may feel like they cannot hold their heads up. If this occurs, visit a doctor right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Nausea and Vomiting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you have contracted botulism from food, the digestive tract will be at the mercy of the disease. The first sign of digestive upset may come in the form of nausea<\/a>. It may be slight at first. This is a sign that there is something disrupting that area of the body. Next, the body may not accept food at all. This results in the body urging you to throw up any food that you try to put into it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While nausea and vomiting can be the symptom of many different ailments if it is persistent and combined with some of the other symptoms on this list it is a good idea to see your doctor find out what is going on. In addition, as the disease starts to advance, a person may experience cramping. Cramping is often a sign that the bacteria have advanced through the abdominal area and the body is not winning the fight against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Paralysis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the final signs and stages of botulism is paralysis<\/a>. In severe cases of the disease, the paralysis can become permanent. If the botulism is not treated correctly, the neural connections from the brain and the muscles will become weakened and can become so damaged that they are not repairable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a person becomes paralyzed as the result of botulism a doctor may attempt many tests and incisions in order to determine whether or not there is a way to get the body to go back to normal. The hope is that the disease does not reach this advanced stage. This is why it is important to know the signs of botulism so that it can be treated as early as possible. The earlier the diseases are detected, the better the chances of curing it become. Paralysis typically is gradual and advances at a somewhat steady pace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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