Botulism 101: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Complications, Treatment, And Prevention

Preventing Other Types of Botulism

As discussed, in addition to foodborne, botulism can occur due to a wound and in infants as well. Wound botulism occurs when the bacteria enter a wound and cause an infection that produces the toxin, whereas infant botulism can occur when the bacterial spores being to grow in the baby's weaker intestinal tract. All of them are dangerous and can be fatal, but there are also ways of preventing these types of botulism. Researchers and doctors recommend not giving honey- even if it is the slightest taste- to children under a year old, as it is known to carry a form of the bacteria. In order to prevent the toxin from being produced in a wound and spreading throughout the body, it's crucial to take proper care of any wound, regardless of how small. This means using disinfectants and antibacterials, cleaning the wound, and covering it as necessary. Furthermore, the bacteria can be spread via inhaled or intravenously injected street drugs, so these behaviors should be avoided.