Botulism is a disease that is caused by the use of products containing toxin. This disease is characterized by paresis, as well as paralysis of muscle tissue. Botulism is considered a massive disease. Usually they are infected immediately by all family members who eat food at the same table.
Botulism - causes
The only cause of this disease can be safely considered a spore-forming, gram-positive bacterium, which has increased mobility. This type of bacteria is capable of producing far from one or two types of toxins. In fact, there are already seven types of toxins, which include A, B, E, as well as some others. If we talk directly about toxins A and B, then it is worth noting that they are the most dangerous for the human body. They can easily withstand the digestive enzymes produced by the human gastrointestinal tract. These types of toxic substances penetrate the human body along with food, while they do not allow acetylcholine, concentrated in the peripheral nerve endings, to stand out.
Botulism - Symptoms
In most people, botulism begins with nausea, vomiting, loose stools. The most common early symptoms of the disease include visual impairment: double vision, the appearance of a “fog” and a “grid” before the eyes, and the inability to read. With a more detailed examination, you can see the expansion of the pupils, drooping of the eyelids, as well as the inability to move the eyeballs. At the same time, the patient with botulism has a great thirst, constant dry mouth, food spills out through the nose and some other symptoms. As for body temperature, it can be observed, both normal and slightly elevated from 37 to 38 degrees. With such signs, it is highly recommended to consult a doctor, since such symptoms already signal a life threat. If you do not consult a doctor on time, then paralysis of the respiratory muscles may appear. Patients often begin to feel a lack of air. As a result, the disease can be fatal.
Botulism - diagnosis
The diagnosis of botulism is based on laboratory tests. A sufficiently large role in the diagnosis of the disease is played by the fact of a group disease in people who take the same food, for example, dried fish, various canned foods, canned vegetables, meat, mushrooms. Laboratory diagnosis is as follows: a patient with botulism takes blood for research, gastric lavage, bowel movements are carried out. The presence of botulinum toxin is determined using a biological method.
Botulism - treatment
Each person suspected of botulism is subject to immediate hospitalization in order to timely carry out specific therapy. It will help prevent possible serious complications. Immediately prior to hospitalization, the following simple procedures can be performed: washing the stomach with boiled water, and then with a two percent solution of soda; very frequent use of water; intramuscular injection of 2 ml of 0.05% prozerin. If acute respiratory failure is manifested, then artificial respiration will be required.
To neutralize botulinum toxin, therapeutic anti-botulinum serums are used. If the type of toxin is unknown, then three types of serum are injected immediately: A, B, E. If a severe form of the disease is observed, then the drug is administered intravenously at the beginning, and then intramuscularly. In case of respiratory distress that occurs after respiratory muscle paralysis, mechanical ventilation is attributed. To successfully combat hypoxia, hyperbaric oxygenation is used.
